APCAC Releases Recommendations to New U.S. Administration

April 15, 2009 - AmCham Singapore, as Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC) Secretariat, released the report of recommendations, a product of the APCAC Spring Conference on March 19 and 20, where 240 delegates from the U.S. and throughout Asia Pacific exchanged ideas on the regional business environment and offered recommendations to President Barack Obama’s new Administration. Please click here to download the report, entitled: Leveraging Trade to Stimulate Growth: Recommendations for the New Administration from Americans Working in Asia.

The APCAC Spring Conference gave AmChams in Asia Pacific and business leaders across the region a unique and timely opportunity to shape U.S.-Asia business and trade relations, especially in light of recent changes in the global business environment. Senior-level delegates from the U.S. and throughout the Asia-Pacific region attended the conference and some of the most distinguished economic experts from the region spoke at the conference such as Minister Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry. Other speakers include Shengman Zhang, President Asia Pacific, Citi, Jeremy Pink, Asia Pacific President of CNBC, and David Ryan, Chairman of Southeast Asia, Goldman Sachs.

With the help of APCO Worldwide, APCAC leveraged the insights discussed during the Annual Conference to draft the recommendations for the new administration, giving suggestions on how it can support and promote economic growth between and within the U.S. and Asia.

“This is a truly a report we can be proud of and I’d like to thank everyone - including AmCham Singapore, APCO Worldwide, and all our AmCham leaders and members who have contributed their valuable insights and industry knowledge to this report,” said Kristin Paulson, Chair of APCAC.

The report covers issues such as U.S. Commercial Engagement with Asia-Pacific, protectionism, taxation of Americans abroad, regional integration, Trans-Pacific Partnership, and also recommendations for various industries (Energy, Financial Services and Investment, Information, Communications, and Technology, Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare, SMEs and Transport & Logistics). To read the full report, click here.

The report will be presented to visiting U.S. government officials visiting Singapore and Asia - such for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, and will be presented at the APCAC Annual Doorknock on June 15 this year. The APCAC Annual Doorknock will see a delegation comprising of AmCham leaders and members from around the region visit Washington DC to meet with House Members and Senators, to represent their companies on policy issues.

What is APCAC?

The Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC) consists of 27 member AmChams. APCAC AmChams represent the growing interests of over 50,000 executives and over 10,000 businesses in 21 economies of the Asia-Pacific region. The APCAC membership manages trade volumes in excess of US$ 400 billion and direct investments (FDI) of nearly US$ 300 billion.

About AmCham Singapore

AmCham Singapore is the leading international business association in Singapore, with 3,200 members representing over 600 American, Singaporean, and other international companies. The U.S. has over US$82 billion of investment in Singapore. AmCham Singapore has assumed the duties of APCAC Secretariat for 2008/2009. The Secretariat handles the day-to-day responsibilities for running APCAC. It supports APCAC’s Annual Doorknock to Washington, DC, when Asia Pacific AmChams meet with Administration and Congressional leaders on policy issues of mutual concern.

For media queries, please contact:

Liyana Othman, Corporate Communications Manager, AmCham Singapore

For more information about the report, please contact:

Anne Marie Brooks, APCAC Coordinator