Special Event Prime Opportunity for APEC Networking

By Sonia Isotov

Members of Hawaii’s business community will have a prime opportunity to network and learn about current Asia-Pacific business issues at a special two-day conference held in conjunction with the APEC economic summit in November.

The Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC) and the East-West Center (EWC) Conference will be held on Nov. 9-10 at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, and will feature international business experts and top executives who will be in Honolulu for the APEC CEO Summit and other APEC Leaders’ Week events.

“With APEC Leaders’ Week quickly approaching, we are pleased to be able to offer another chance for Hawai‘i residents to become involved in this prestigious meeting,” said Peter Ho, Hawai‘i Host Committee Chair, in a written statement. “The Conference offers the rare opportunity for participants to engage in discussions with business leaders and experts from around the Asia-Pacific Region on topics such as trade, regional sustainability, public-private partnerships and the role of small and medium enterprises, or SMEs.”

The conference, sponsored by the PBEC and EWC, is supported by the APEC 2011 Hawai’i Host Committee and sessions will focus on the following topics:

• Current trends impacting economies across the Asia-Pacific region;
• Regional energy challenges;
• Investment interests of the People’s Republic of China and other APEC economies;
• Innovations in sustainable construction and tourism;
• Sustainable business practices; and
• Food security and safety.

PBEC, EWC and the APEC 2011 Hawaii Host Committee have brought the following featured speakers to the conference:

• Mark Spiegel, Vice President of International Research and Director of the Center for Pacific Basin Studies at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco;
• Yu Ping, Vice Chairman, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade;
• Keith Williams, President and CEO, Underwriters Laboratories;
• Dr. David Robson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tethys Petroleum Limited;
• Dr. Cathie Woteki, Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, US Department of Agriculture;
• Dr. Phyllis Yoshida, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, Europe and the Americas, US Department of Energy;
• Jim Fletcher, IBM Distinguished Engineer, Chief Architect, Tivoli Industry Solutions and Smarter Buildings Architecture; and
• Charles Lake, Chairman, AFLAC Japan.

Another event being held concurrently on Nov. 10, at the Halekulani Hotel, is the SME (small-to-medium enterprise) Symposium being sponsored by the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). This half-day seminar that will explore how innovative technologies and services are creating international trade opportunities for SMEs. It will also address the barriers and challenges that SMEs face when reaching out to new markets, including navigating unfamiliar regulatory environments, such as those relating to intellectual property rights and handling business ethics issues.

Interested individuals are view the full agenda of the conference at www.apec2011hawaii.com. Registration for the PBEC/EWC Conference is $750 per person and includes lunches and an evening cocktail reception, or $150 for the half-day ABAC SME Symposium at the Halekulani Hotel on Nov. 10.