DaNang (VNA) – The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) will urge APECEconomic Leaders to press ahead with structural and trade reform, said 2017ABAC Chair Hoang Van Dung said at a press conference on November 6.

Intheir annual report to be submitted to the leaders, released on November 6, theywill call on leaders to show leadership on further liberalisation of trade ingoods and services as well as investment flows. These issues will be discussedby ABAC members in their annual dialogue with APEC leaders on November 10.

“Thismeans tackling structural reforms and non-tariff barriers, encouragingcross-border investment and maintaining the commitment to make the Free TradeArea of the Asia-Pacific a reality,” said Dung.

Thereport also highlights the imperative to help women participate more broadly inAPEC economies, and to help micro, small and medium enterprises to participatein trade.

Dung also affirmed the strong commitment of thebusiness community to partner with governments to ensure a prosperousAsia-Pacific region.

Answeringa VNA reporter’s question on the ABAC’s proposal to support MSMEs, David Touafrom Papua New Guinea, ABAC Chair 2018, said the council will recommend thegovernments to help MSMEs access financial sources more easily. 

Meanwhile, Anthony Nightingale from the ABAC’s Connectivity Working Group, said digital economy anddigitalization is one of the highlights of the ABAC’s report.

The council has developed programmes to help MSMEsand empower them for further participation in international economy, he said.

Regardingthe role of women, he said they are an important part of APEC member economies.

Thecouncil has established organisations and groups, focusing on issues women arefacing, such as gender.

Thisis one of the issues the ABAC places concern in the APEC 2020 roadmap, he said.-VNA