Two-tier structure proposed for Asia-Pacific Business Network
Two-tier structure proposed for Asia-Pacific Business Network
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Australia have proposed a two-tier
structure for the organization of the Asia-Pacific Business
Network which will be launched at its inaugural meeting here on
August 24.
Both countries, who are the joint organizers of the meeting,
proposed that the first tier be a policy development stream
involving national chambers of commerce and industry and other
major national industry associations.
The second tier is suggested to be a business networking
stream comprising representatives of individual enterprises.
The proposal was prepared jointly by Aminuddin, Vice President
of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Trade and
International Relations, and Harold Clough, President of the
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Policy Development Stream will be responsible for
providing the organizational infrastructure for the Asia-Pacific
Business Network (APB Net) such as supplying the resources for
meeting organization, plus preparing reports and the agenda.
"The task of the stream members also includes the distillation
of views expressed in policy debates during Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation process," Husein Aminuddin commented yesterday.
Linkages
The Business Networking Stream will comprise the
representatives of individual companies who, besides discussing
policy issues, will use their regular meetings to network and
develop business linkages.
The idea of the APB Net is to establish a strong and effective
mechanism by which businessmen from all APEC member-nations can
consult on important economic and business policy issues. It is
also designed to create a sound and healthy business environment
for APEC members and to expand and to brief businesses on inter-
APEC regulations.
The forum also is designed to be a medium for enhancing
cooperation and creating alliances between big, medium and small
scale enterprises. It is also to promote greater trust and
improved partnerships between the public and private business
sectors.
According to Aminuddin, the inaugural meeting of the APB Net
will be attended by the representatives of individual enterprises
and not of national business organizations.
"But we haven't ruled out the possibility of inviting
businessmen from countries outside APEC in view of the great
interests in the forum," he added.
APEC, which will hold its second informal leaders meeting here
in November, groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand,
Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand
and the United States.(vin)