ABAC brings together over 60 senior business executives – up to three from each of APEC's 21 member economies, appointed by their respective APEC Economy Leaders.
The New Zealand members are Anna Curzon, Brett O'Riley and Sarah Ottrey. Stephanie Honey leads the ABAC New Zealand Secretariat as Lead Staffer and policy advisor.
The Asia-Pacific represents one of the world’s most vibrant and economically-significant regions. The 21 APEC economies accounted for 46 percent of global trade in 2023, and include three of the world’s four largest economies. For New Zealand, the importance of the APEC region is even greater: 15 of our top 20 trading partners are APEC economies.
ABAC New Zealand members are playing a leading role in the following areas this year:
Championing the WTO and the rules-based international economic order
Pushing for progress on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)
Advocating for open markets and resisting protectionism, including Non-Tariff Barriers
Supporting trade inclusion for Indigenous entrepreneurs, women and MSMEs
Making rapid and effective progress on climate change and sustainability, particularly leveraging trade tools
Advocating for undistorted, sustainable and open food trade in the region
Creating an enabling environment for digital trade, including universal paperless trade.
Anna Curzon chairs ABAC’s Regional Economic Integration Working Group.
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum brings together 21 member-economies from around the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to create greater prosperity and more inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth, including through deepening regional economic integration. The APEC website can be found here.
The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) was created by APEC Economic Leaders in 1995 to serve as the business voice in APEC.
Each economy has up to three members and meets four times a year to discuss current issues. ABAC’s major deliverable is its annual Report to Leaders, which contains recommendations for the region. This is discussed in a Dialogue with the Leaders as part of the annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
ABAC also provides recommendations to APEC Trade Ministers, Finance Ministers and others. The ABAC Secretariat is located in Manila. The ABAC website can be found here.