APEC MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE TO MEET IN AUCKLAND
International TradeThe APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade will mark the start of Auckland’s participation in APEC New Zealand 99, Trade Minister Lockwood Smith said today.
The Trade Ministers' Meeting will be held at the Aotea Centre, bringing Trade Ministers from the 21 APEC member economies to the city. Dr Smith will chair the meeting.
While the official meeting runs over 29 and 30 June, other APEC 99 events will surround it. These include the:
- APEC Women Leaders’ Network Meeting, 20-23 June (Wellington)
- APEC Business Symposium, 24-26 June
- APEC Student Company Achievers’ Forum, 25-29 June
- Informal APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting, 27 June
- APEC Seminar - Bridging the Gap: Explaining Trade and Investment Liberalisation, 28 June
"As with all APEC 99 events this year, the meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade will have a strong business component," said Dr Smith.
“Formal Ministerial meetings will be combined with more relaxed sessions involving private sector representatives from throughout the APEC region. The meetings with business people from each economy will not involve set-piece speeches or formal agendas. They will encourage frank discussions of APEC's work, and how we can improve our interaction with the private sector to enhance opportunities for business within the APEC region.
“As was evident at the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Meeting in Christchurch recently, this engagement was valuable both for Ministers and the business community.
A Ministerial Retreat will also be held during the Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade at Whangaparoa’s Gulf Harbour Country Club on the afternoon of 29 June. Dr Smith and the visiting Trade Ministers will travel to Whangaparoa by boat, before continuing discussions at the Gulf Harbour Country Club.
"The visiting Ministers are only here for a few days, and the retreat at the Gulf Harbour Country Club, the venue of the recent World Cup of Golf, provides an excellent opportunity to showcase a glimpse of New Zealand's unique beauty," said Dr Smith.
The Trade Ministers' Meeting is the second ministerial level meeting of APEC 99, following the April Small and Medium Enterprises Ministers’ Meeting. APEC Foreign and Trade Ministers will meet jointly at the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Auckland in September, immediately prior to the Leaders’ Meeting.
ENDS
ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
MEETING OF APEC MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
June 1999
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
Asterix (*) indicates meetings that are open to media
Sunday 27 June
Informal Senior Officials Meeting
NZI Convention Centre
Monday 28 June
0900 1800 APEC Seminar: Bridging the Gap: Explaining Trade and Investment Liberalisation *
Carlton Ballroom, Carlton Hotel
Tuesday 29 June
0900 1200 Official Welcome and opening of Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade *
NZI Convention Centre
1400 1700 Retreat
Gulf Harbour Country Club
1915 2230 Dinner of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (by invitation)
Wednesday 30 June
0900 1200 Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade
NZI Convention Centre
1200 1330 Working Lunch with APEC business representatives
1330 1430 Dialogue with APEC business representatives
1445 1615 Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade
NZI Convention Centre
1630 1730 Ministerial Media Conference *
ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre
ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
MEETING OF APEC MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRADE
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
21-28 June 1999
ASSOCIATED SPECIAL EVENTS
(More detailed programmes will be released closer to the time)
Friday 18 to Sunday 20 June
Indigenous Women in Exporting Business Seminar
ParkRoyal Hotel, Wellington
Monday 21 June to Wednesday 23 June
APEC Womens Leaders’ Network Meeting *
Plaza International Hotel, Wellington
Thursday 24 June until Saturday 26 June
APEC Business Symposium *
Aotea Centre
Thursday 24 June to Monday 28 June
APEC Student Company Achievers Forum *
Auckland Institute of Technology