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.

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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)