Business Participation If a country's human and physical capital is the engine behind economic growth and development, the business community is the fuel for this engine. APEC fully appreciates the important role that business plays in any economy and involves the international business community at all levels of the APEC process. At the highest level, APEC Economic Leaders communicate through annual meetings with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). ABAC comprises high-level business people from all 21 Member Economies, including representatives of the Small to Medium Enterprises sector.
At the working level, representatives from the private sector are invited to join APEC working groups and expert groups. This process provides an important opportunity for industry to provide input into various areas of APEC's ongoing work.
Academic and Research Institution Participation Through the APEC Study Centres (ASC) Consortium, APEC Member Economies actively engage academic and research institutions in the APEC process. Amongst a range of key activities, the ASC Consortium facilitates cultural and intellectual exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region and assists the APEC process by undertaking advanced, collaborative interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research from an independent and long-term perspective. There are ASCs in 19 APEC Member Economies, comprising some 100 universities, research centres and centres of academic excellence across the APEC region.
Academics and research institutions also participate in the working level of APEC through meetings, seminars and other activities.
Women's Participation For a number of years, APEC has actively sought the input and participation of women in the APEC process. Currently, the Gender Focus Network Point, which comprises members from all 21 APEC Member Economies, encourages the consideration of gender issues within APEC. All APEC projects and activities are carefully monitored to ensure that gender issues are considered.
