Stephen Jacobi, Executive Director of NZIBF, traveled to San Francisco for APEC Leaders’ week and writes his thoughts on the outcome.
APEC Leaders, Business Align Policy Visions for New Environment

Manila, The Philippines, 18 November 2015 — Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III opened a dialogue between APEC Leaders and regional business representatives in Manila on Wednesday by calling for greater collaboration between the region’s governments and businesses to ensure stability needed to foster economic opportunities for more people in the changing global environment.
The dialogue examined policy recommendations from the APEC Business Advisory Council and set the tone for the 2015 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting that will take place here on Thursday. Guided by President Aquino as Chair, Leaders will together flesh out directives for the 21 APEC member economies to take forward over the coming year to boost trade and inclusive, sustainable growth among them.
“Confronted by an increasingly complex, interconnected, and unpredictable world, we are all challenged to look at trends that may cause disruption, so that we can act with resilience and craft a response with inclusivity at its core, ensuring no one is left behind,” said President Aquino.
“Regardless of the sector you belong to, the work of innovation begins with the correct appreciation of the problem, which leads to the correct crafting of the solution,” he continued. “Policymakers must provide the environment that nurtures this.”
Areas of focus included next steps towards a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, or FTAAP, a concept introduced by APEC Business Advisory Council to APEC members in 2004 by the private sector. The pursuit of region-wide growth through services market opening and development; infrastructure finance expansion; support for micro, small and medium enterprise growth; and the promotion of sustainable development and the rule of law were additional points of attention.
“Global megatrends are changing the landscape and are creating new challenges on economies, business and society as a whole,” explained Doris Magsaysay-Ho, 2015 Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council, or ABAC, pointing to demographic and social change, rapid urbanization, global economic power shifts, climate change and resource scarcity, and the impact of new technology. “Consumer demands are rapidly changing, compelling everyone to review business models and delivery systems.”
“We applaud the recent conclusion of the Trans Pacific Partnership, call for the completion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and are encouraged by the progress of the Pacific Alliance as important pathways to the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific,” Magsaysay-Ho, noted, adding that ABAC is now working to identify next generation business and investment issues so that the FTAAP becomes responsive to the needs of business big and small alike.”
ABAC representatives suggested APEC members increase their focus on the services sector as the single biggest contributor to employment and output in the region. They underscored that most barriers to services trade are structural in nature and require ambitious policy and regulatory reform while noting ABAC’s contribution to a new services cooperation framework on the table among APEC members.
“Global megatrends offer new growth opportunities especially for small and medium enterprises,” said Magsaysay-Ho, advocating for inclusive business models and a policy environment to support the internationalization of firms in the sector through e-commerce. “Unlocking the remarkable potential of entrepreneurs needs a robust innovation ecosystem.”
“We are offering to serve not just as a resource for knowledge-sharing but as partners in developing policies and action that will usher in an age of shared prosperity for APEC and the region’s people, she concluded.”
REGISTER WITH TRADE WORKS
Register to stay up to date with latest news, as well as saving and discussing articles you’re interested in.
Latest News
Of APEC, CPTPP and IPEF
While New Zealand was sorting out its new Government, the alphabet soup which is trade got a good stirring in San Francisco. This was APEC Leaders’ week, the annual gathering of Leaders, Ministers, business people and other stakeholders from the 21 economies of...
Remarks to Shanghai Forum: “China and CPTPP – New Zealand Expectations and Advice”
FUNDAN UNIVERSITY, SHANGHAI, 28 OCTOBER 2023 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM 杰珂陛 执行董事 新西兰国际商业论坛 CHINA AND CPTPP – NEW ZEALAND EXPECTATIONS AND ADVICE It is an honour for me to speak in such a distinguished forum. My thanks...
ADDRESS TO THE 53rd ONE STOP UPDATE FOR THE ACCOUNTANT IN BUSINESS – GLOBAL ECONOMIC UPDATE
AUCKLAND, 16 OCTOBER 2023 STEPHEN JACOBI - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NZ INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM Watch the full speech here. It’s a pleasure to be back with you for the 53rd edition of the One Stop Update and my thanks to Brightstar for giving me this opportunity once...
EYES OPENED DURING INDIA VISIT
Published by Newsroom on 6 September 2023 Stephen Jacobi reports on the recent business delegation to India. Every country has its contrasts and a subcontinent of 1.4 billion with thousands of years of history has more than most. Today’s India can reach the...
GUEST BLOG: Raewyn Bleakley, Chief Executive, New Zealand Food and Grocery Council
Exporting is an important part of the business of many NZFGC members whose brands we see daily on supermarket shelves. For some, exporting outweighs what they sell on our shores, while others are looking to break into new markets to open up growth opportunities beyond...
New Zealand business delegation “over the moon” with Indian trade and investment opportunities
MEDIA RELEASE - Friday 1 September, 2023 The involvement of New Zealand businesses in the successful Indian Moon landing epitomises the trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. Just as Rakon and RocketLab provided innovative elements to the...
REMARKS TO INDIA NEW ZEALAND TRADE AND ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE
DELHI, 28 AUGUST 2023 STEPHEN JACOBI - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NZ INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM Opening remarks It’s a pleasure for me and the entire New Zealand delegation to be in Delhi today just days since India’s magnificent moon landing. These days India is literally...
Large business delegation bound for India
MEDIA RELEASE - Tuesday 22 August, 2023 Fifty business representatives will leave later this week bound for Delhi, making it one of the largest delegations ever to head for India. The delegation, comprising members and senior leaders of five business organisations,...
India and New Zealand: The next innings
As published in the NZ Herald, 18 August 2023 By Stephen Jacobi As a trade mission prepares to depart for Delhi, Stephen Jacobi of the New Zealand International Business Forum considers the prospects for growing two-way trade and investment between India and New...
CRUNCH TIME FOR CPTPP
As published in the NZ Herald, 18 August 2023. By Stephen Jacobi, Executive Director, NZ International Business Forum. Following the Ministers’ meeting in Auckland, what is the outlook for CPTPP as the world’s most ambitious free trade agreement? When Ministers...
INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND: GETTING ONTO THE FRONT FOOT
A 50 person business delegation is about to depart for India. It follows a major report by the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC), published in April. The report took a critical look at the relationship, finding a number of shortcomings and advocating...
ADDRESS TO THE HAWKE’S BAY BRANCH OF THE NZ INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS – “TRADE SECURITY – FINDING NEW BASKETS”
TUESDAY 15 AUGUST 2023 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NZ INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM It’s a pleasure to be with you once again. This is an address about trade but also about baskets and eggs – in particular how many eggs and how many baskets we need to prosper...
SUBMISSION TO THE PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE COMMITTEE
INTERNATIONAL TREATY EXAMINATON OF THE NEW ZEALAND EUROPEAN UNION FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, JULY 2023 Introduction and Summary This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) whose members are listed at Annex A[1]. NZIBF is a...
CER CELEBRATES A RUBY ANNIVERSARY
The Australia-New Zealand Leadership, the semi-annual gathering of Ministers and business leaders, has been described as a “successful symbol of trans-Tasman togetherness[1]”. And the togetherness vibe was certainly present when the Forum gathered in Wellington...
Asia-Pacific businesses urge APEC Leaders to act on equity, sustainability and opportunity in an increasingly challenging landscape
APEC NEWS RELEASE issued by the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, this week, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) stressed the need for action in an increasingly fragmented and difficult operating environment. “Our theme for...