APEC businessmen to discuss free trade

APEC businessmen to discuss free trade

JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of the private sectors of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, grouped in the Asia Pacific Business Network (APB-Net), will meet in Osaka, Japan, next week to discuss free trade issues.

Aminuddin, an Indonesian delegate of APB-Net, said in a statement here yesterday that the APEC private sectors will meet on June 2 to prepare for an APB-Net congress scheduled for October 22 in Osaka.

The leaders of APEC are scheduled to attend a summit in Osaka in November. Their last summit, held in Bogor, West Java, last year produced a resolution aiming for the creation of the world's largest free trade area by 2020.

"It is our hope that the next APB-Net congress and the next APEC summit will lead to the creation of a blueprint for trade liberalization, as well as a clear framework for the cooperation of private sectors," said Aminuddin, who is also the chair of foreign relations committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Aminuddin said that the Indonesian delegation included economist Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti and former legislator Marzuki Darusman.

APEC groups the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Mexico, Chile, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea. (hdj)