SA: APEC seen as irrelevant by business leaders

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2000
SA: APEC seen as irrelevant by business leaders

ADELAIDE, Aug 15 AAP - The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) had a long way
to go to convince the private sector it was useful, its key business advocate said here
today.

APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) chairman Timothy Ong said many business leaders
still believed that APEC was an irrelevant talkfest.

"APEC has a long way to go in terms of outreach," Mr Ong said.

"A lot of people out there think its irrelevant.

"This year there will be 120 APEC meetings which is incredible, this is supposed to
be lean and mean."

Mr Ong said that despite business scepticism, APEC was the only realistic way trade
barriers would be lowered throughout Asia.

But he said that business leaders were used to decisiveness and fast-paced change rather
than the slow compromise that was necessary between governments.

"Unfortunately there's no alternative to talking and talking and talking," he said.

"We have countries as varied as the US, Japan, Papua New Guinea and Brunei.

"APEC works on the basis of consensus, it is not me telling you what to do, but me
saying `this is my plan' and you saying `this is mine' and it's passed around.

"It's embarrassing to put a plan on the table that's much worse than the others.

"It's a constant struggle, but there are no members who really believe in turning the clock back.

"Tariffs are enforced by governments, unless we have governments getting together and
discussing these things we will not have progress."

Mr Ong also said that Australia's status in the region had increased as a result of
the Asian economic crisis.

He said that Australia had weathered the crisis much better than other Asian countries.

"That was impressive, there was a time when an inferiority complex was developing in
Australia," Mr Ong said.

"Until 1997 all the talk was of the Asian economic miracle and that Asian economies
could defy the laws of gravity.

"I think Australia's stature in the region increased as a result of that.

"Different Australian governments have put this country in good stead."

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