About

Photo Courtesy of the APEC Secretariat, www.apec.org
Executive Training

Photo Courtesy of the APEC Secretariat, www.apec.org
Executive Training
Strengthening regional economic integration and prosperity across Asia and the Pacific is the Centre’s driving purpose.
We have an enviable record in designing and delivering tailored training programs and capacity building programs for government,
business, not-for-profits and academic institutions.
Strengthening regional economic integration and prosperity across Asia and the Pacific is the Centre’s driving purpose.
We have an enviable record in designing and delivering tailored training programs and capacity building programs for government,
business, not-for-profits and academic institutions.

Photo Courtesy of the APEC Secretariat, www.apec.org
Executive Training
Strengthening regional economic integration and prosperity across Asia and the Pacific is the Centre’s driving purpose.
We have an enviable record in designing and delivering tailored training programs and capacity building programs for government,
business, not-for-profits and academic institutions.

Policy work
Explore our centre's policy work, as well as other work relevant to the APEC Australia agenda.
19/05/2022
Research Report
A Path to Australia: Opportunities and Market Insights for Vietnamese Business
This report is written specifically for Viet Nam’s business and government leaders and entrepreneurs and aims to help Vietnamese businesses enter Australia to diversify their import sources and export markets, grow investment, strengthen supply chain resilience, and build innovation.
01/02/2020
APEC policy report
Blockchain and international trade in the APEC region
Graduate students from RMIT University prepared a report for ABAC on applications of blockchain technology to support APEC trade facilitation initiatives.
01/07/2019
APEC policy report
A landscape analysis on emerging payment channels in APEC
This report, commissioned by ABAC Australia, provides an overview of alternative payments technologies emerging in APEC and discusses their potential for accelerating financial inclusion.
1/07/2019
Article
China’s international investment strategy: A contentious issue
A new book on China’s International Investment Strategy has just been published, combining legal, economic and international relations perspectives.
May 2019
APEC policy report
APEC Energy Demand and Supply Outlook 2019
APERC's Outlook aims to support APEC economies in achieving their stated energy goals as they continue to develop and grow, while also informing about recent energy trends in the region.
06/03/2019
APEC workshop report
The digital economy: measurement, regulation and inclusion report
This report focuses on the key outcomes and policy recommendations of the digital economy workshop on measurement, regulation and inclusion.
02/2019
APEC policy report
FTAAP: Next generation trade and investments issues - A business perspective
This ABAC report provides a business perspective on emerging trade and investment issues and their coverage in recent trade agreements such as the CPTPP, RCEP and Pacific Alliance.
1/11/2018
Article
Asia’s digital revolution: A new wave of digital innovation is reshaping Asia, raising the region’s growth potential
Asia is embracing the digital revolution. But what does this mean?
1/11/2018
Article
Modernising international trade law for the digital economy
The extraordinary growth of the digital economy requires the adaptation of international trade rules to a new world of trade in digital services and data flows.
2018
Background paper
OECD - Australian services trade in the global economy
This OECD report was provided to our Services Trade Competitiveness workshop attendees as a background paper.
1/06/2018
Article
Global value chains in the Asia Pacific
APEC's vision of an Asia Pacific with free and open trade and investment, supported by structural reform and capacity building, is more relevant than ever.
1/06/2018
Article
Digital trade and services - Guiding frameworks for regulation of digital trade in services
Developing an enabling environment for access to and delivery of ‘digital services’ is a new focus in APEC.
1/02/2018
Article
Workforce ready challenges in the Asia Pacific: A regional wicked problem?
The successful transition of recent graduates from education to job is central to achieving sustainable development and building resilient economies.
01/11/2017
APEC policy report
ABAC/RMIT report - 'Digital entrepreneurship across the APEC region'
Graduate students from RMIT University prepared a report on Digital entrepreneurship across the APEC region. This was presented to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
1/11/2017
Article
Coping with emergencies: Bushfires in Chile and in Australia
Most APEC economies have been affected by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fire, floods and hurricanes.
1/07/2017
Article
PRC infrastructure: A lot done, a long way to go
It is well known the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is a heavyweight when it comes to infrastructure investment.
1/07/2017
Article
Benefits of services trade liberalisation in the Asia Pacific region
Services are at the top of the list of new sources of growth recently identified by APEC.
1/03/2017
Article
Whither Trump Trade Policy?
Donald Trump’s election as President has foreshadowed changes to trade policy in the Asian Pacific region.
1/11/2016
Article
APEC - The way forward
From time to time most institutional groupings ask themselves if they are 'fit for purpose'. APEC is going through such a phase...
1/11/2016
Article
ASEAN: Escaping from a shallow integration
The economic growth of East Asia has outperformed the world’s growth for the last 2 decades.
21/12/2021
Article
Good for trade, good for the climate - why APEC’s list of environmental goods should be updated
New environmental goods are emerging. Trade in new environmental goods is growing. How can APEC benefit? Updating and expanding APEC ‘s list of environmental goods can help to lower trade barriers and build the clean industries of the future.
08/11/2019
APEC policy report
Benefits of trade: An organisational perspective
This joint ABAC/PECC report provides a business-level perspective on the benefits and barriers to engaging in international commerce.
1/07/2019
Article
Australia’s newest FTAs with Hong Kong and Indonesia - towards a more open APEC services environment
Australia recently signed bilateral free trade agreements with Indonesia and Hong Kong, China.
18-19/06/2019
APEC workshop report
World Bank Group - Australia - APEC investment policy reform
This report discusses the outcomes of the World Bank - Australia - APEC investment policy reform workshop.
24/04/2019
Background paper
Increasing the competitiveness of APEC economies through greater international engagement in education
This paper looks at education as a powerful determinant of social and economic development, and how critical it is to innovation.
1/03/2019
APEC workshop report
APEC workshop report on ‘Improving professional licensure in APEC’
This report focuses on the workshop's outcomes, including how APEC can address barriers to professional licensing and facilitate trade in professional services.
02/2019
APEC policy report
Update to the FTAAP opportunity: a report to ABAC
This ABAC report outlines the pathways to FTAAP in the face of rising nationalism and anti-globalisation sentiments around the world.
1/11/2018
Article
Accounting for the Sustainable Development Goals is crucial
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are playing an important role in aligning business and government activities with the need for a fairer and environmentally sustainable world.
10-12/10/2018
Background paper
The economics of trade agreements: An introduction
The purpose of this paper is to equip readers with an understanding of the economic drivers of free trade and to apply these concepts to the PNG context.
9/08/2018
APEC workshop report
APEC seminar on ‘Increasing the competitiveness of the telecommunications sector’ report
This report focuses on the seminar's outcomes and the new technologies available to the telecommunications sector.
1/06/2018
Article
The new trade agenda, mutual recognition and BREXIT
International trade policy is changing rapidly. Trade flows of goods are now dominated by global supply chains of commodities and manufactures, sustained by growing services trade.
1/06/2018
Article
Supply chains on blockchains
Blockchain technology is shaping up as one of the most disruptive new technologies of the 21st century.
1/02/2018
Article
Regaining the consensus for globalisation
It was not very long ago when discussions about globalisation were so hopeful. Globalisation was an irreversible and unambiguous force for good.
1/11/2017
Article
Future tensed over globalisation?
After the 2008 global financial crisis, G20 leaders signed a pledge in November 2008 to avoid protectionist measures.
1/11/2017
Article
Power of parity for APEC
Persistent gender inequality not only stunts women’s potential; it is also a huge opportunity cost for the world economy.
1/07/2017
Article
Building a digital trading regime in Asia and the Pacific
Today, we can say with certainty that trade is going consistently and irrevocably digital.
1/03/2017
Article
Enhancing foreign direct investment policy in APEC
Open trade and investment by 2020 is at the heart of APEC’s regional investment agenda.
1/03/2017
Article
Enhancing labour mobility in the APEC region
APEC leaders have declared that 'much work needs to be done to ease existing barriers to interaction and mobility...'
1/11/2016
Article
The participation of small business in Asian global value chains
The international division of labour has opened up opportunities for firms, increasingly including small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).
1/11/2016
Article
The uncertain evolution of multilateral trade in services
The global development of digital technologies and the rise of liberalisation policies in the public services sector is increasingly blurring boundaries.
14/12/2020
Research Report
A Path to Viet Nam - Opportunities and Market Insights for Australian Business
This report directs the spotlight on economic and commercial opportunities in Viet Nam and supports Australian
businesses to achieve these goals.
18/08/2019
APEC workshop report
Services trade competitiveness report
This report discusses the outcomes of the workshop on services trade competitiveness.
1/07/2019
Article
Unlocking the economic potential of remote areas
Remote area development is an emerging topic of interest within the APEC region.
07-08/05/2019
APEC workshop report
Gender data - 'Advancing women's economic empowerment through data workshop'
This report discusses the outcomes of the gender data workshop delivered by Chile and Australia in the margins of SOM2.
23-24/04/2019
APEC workshop report
APSC - ABAC Public-Private Dialogue on services in the digital era report
This report looks at the outcomes of the PPD and how best to implement the APEC Services Competitiveness Roadmap in the digital era.
1/03/2019
Background paper
Improving professional licensure in APEC
This paper focuses on professional licensure as one policy measure that affects the ability of professionals to provide services outside their home jurisdiction.
01/11/2018
APEC policy report
ABAC/RMIT report - 'Human resources development challenges and opportunities arising from digital innovation'
Graduate students from RMIT University prepared a report for ABAC on human resources development challenges and opportunities arising from digital innovation.
1/11/2018
Article
Digital trade in Asia Pacific FTAs – building blocks for global rules
The Comprehensive Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) contains the most comprehensive rules on e-commerce and digital trade of any FTA to date.
10/10/2018
Background paper
Blockchain for development report
In this report, we examine the potential of blockchain for developing economies, with a focus on Papua New Guinea.
20-21/06/2018
Background paper
Digital financial literacy
Increasing access to and use of financial services through digitalisation of these services is a major priority in Papua New Guinea.
1/06/2018
Article
Where to with APEC's investment framework?
APEC is now embarking on an important review of a post 2020 vision for a region which has as its fundamental objective the Bogor goals of open trade and investment.
1/02/2018
Article
The comprehensive and progressive TPP (CPTPP)
In 2017, with President Trump having disavowed the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, the remaining eleven governments who negotiated it agreed to a set of changes.
1/02/2018
Article
A perfect storm for globalisation?
A number of factors have combined to produce a perfect storm for globalisation – resulting in a more complex and ever-evolving landscape for business.
1/11/2017
Article
Global infrastructure outlook
Providing adequate infrastructure that continues to support prosperity is one of the most significant challenges to our global wellbeing.
1/11/2017
Article
Financing the Belt and Road Initiative: MDBs, SWFs, SOEs and the long wait for private investors
More than four years ago the Chinese leadership launched the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
1/07/2017
Article
Investment facilitation in APEC
The APEC Investment Facilitation Action Plan (IFAP) was launched in 2008 to strengthen regional economic integration, expand prosperity and employment, and improve the competitiveness and sustainability of growth.
1/03/2017
Article
Asian infrastructure: lifting private finance and institutional investment?
Infrastructure investment has moved up the political agenda all over the world.
1/03/2017
Article
Why penalising imports is a bad idea
Discussions on how to discourage imports and foster exports to gain more from international trade and create jobs domestically are gaining momentum.
1/11/2016
Article
Environmental provisions in trade agreements
That environment is a global public concern, is not in question. Whether trade agreements are suitable for addressing these concerns, is a different issue altogether.
Research report
How APEC can address restrictions on cross-border data flows
Within APEC, cross-border data flows are transforming international trade, creating new opportunities for participation in the global economy. Use of data and digital technologies such as AI should also drive increased productivity and economic growth.