New Zealand Chair 2007/08

Progressing Structural Reform in APEC Economies

In the Leaders’ Week Edition of the APEC E-Newsletter, Economic Committee Chair, Prof. Bob Buckle, highlights the Committees success in raising awareness of the significance of "behind-the-border" policies for growth and regional economic integration. The article notes some important and concrete steps the Economic Committee has taken to advance the Leaders' Agenda to Implement Structural Reform in 2008. A full copy of the article is available on the APEC website.

EC Chair Comments on APEC Economic Policy Report 2008 and Global Economic Crisis

The Economic Committee Chair, Prof. Buckle, attended the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting in Lima, Peru, which was held in the lead up to the Leaders’ meeting in November. One of the purposes was to present the APEC Economic Policy Report 2008 (AEPR) which APEC members endorsed. Prof. Buckle also attended a media session following the meeting where he provided comments on the 2008 report and also underscored the importance of good structural reform policies in light of the recent global economic crisis.

APEC Endorses More Ambitious Structural Reform in the Midst of Economic Crisis

At the Third Senior Officials Meeting in Lima, Peru, APEC officials endorsed an ambitious work plan to promote structural reform issues in the coming APEC year. Professor Bob Buckle, Economic Committee Chair explained that, “structural reform is necessary in order to emerge from economic crisis, such as we are experiencing globally, right now." Economic crisis can be an opportunity for improvements in structural policies, creating demand for better regulations and competition policies, and good governance. Detailed coverage is available in the news release on the APEC website.

Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting

APEC’s first Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting was held in Melbourne, Australia, 3-5 August 2008. New Zealand was represented at the meeting by the Minister of Commerce, Hon Lianne Dalziel, and Prof. Bob Buckle as Economic Committee Chair, with support by officials from Treasury and the Ministry of Economic Development. The meeting allowed Ministers responsible for regulatory implementation and competition policy in APEC’s 21 economies to share experiences on the benefits and challenges of undertaking structural reform. The highly successful meeting concluded with Ministers endorsing several key deliverables in a Joint Ministerial Statement which is available for download at the APEC website: Joint Ministerial Statement

Other useful links:

• Australian Treasurer, Wayne Swan's Remarks to the APEC SRMM
• APEC Ministers Tackle Regulatory Obstacles to Structural Reform
• Good Practice Guide on Regulatory Reform

Results That Count: Workshop on Government Performance and Results Management

The APEC Economic Committee's Workshop on Government Performance and Results Management, co-sponsered by Chinese Taipei and New Zealand, was held on 27-28 March. Involving officials and experts from APEC economies, the Workshop focused on raising awareness, stimulating new ideas and sharing experiences in managing the performance of public agencies. Economic Committee Chair, Prof. Bob Buckle of New Zealand, said that the workshop will contribute to a culture of "producing concrete results with public money". This, he explained, would benefit all APEC stakeholders.

Structural reform a precursor to regional growth:

A policy dialogue on structural reform for Senior Officials was one of the features of the APEC Senior Officials’ and Economic Committee meetings, held in Lima, Peru on 29 February 2008. Involving experts from the World Bank, OECD, APEC member economies and the business community, the dialogue discussed the importance of structural reform as a key element in promoting improved economic performance in the Asia-Pacific region. A news release from the policy dialogue is available for download. Structural Reform a Precursor to Regional Growth.

E-governance a defining factor in structural reform:

A Workshop on E-governance was held at the recent APEC Economic Committee meeting in Lima, Peru on 27 February 2008. E-governance is critical to the ability of an economy to improve government efficiency and transparency, was the message that came out of the workshop. A news release from the workshop is available for download. E-Governance: A Defining Factor in Structural Reform.

EC Chair’s opening remarks to the workshop on e-governance:

The EC Chair (Professor Bob Buckle of New Zealand) provided the opening remarks to the EC Workshop on E-Governance held in Lima, Peru on 27 February. One of the points made in his opening remarks was the evidence showing that the application of e-governance across APEC economies varies, despite its potential to enhance public sector governance. A webcast of Professor Buckle’s opening remarks to the workshop are available for download. EC Chair Bob Buckle's Opening Remarks to the APEC Economic Committee's E-Governance Workshop.

News from the EC Chair: Promoting Improved Structural Policies in the Asia-Pacific Region

2007 was a busy year for the Economic Committee with APEC economies recognising the growing need to pursue structural reforms that address domestic or “behind-the-border” impediments to growth. This new item from EC Chair, Professor Bob Buckle, offers an account of some of the major developments for the Economic Committee during 2007 and outlines the Committees work programme for 2008. A copy of the News from the EC Chair article is available for download from the APEC website. APEC E-Newsletter.

Structural Reform in APEC Economics

Professor Bob Buckle (Principal Advisor at the Treasury and Chair of the APEC Economic Committee), presented a paper on Structural Reform in APEC Economies at the APEC Thematic Seminar and Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) in Lima, Peru, 27-29 November 2007.  A copy of the paper and PowerPoint slide presentation are available for download.

Good public institutions 'essential for growth'

An article in the Sydney Morning Herald highlighting lessons from the 2007 APEC Economic Policy Report on the importance of well managed, accountable and ethical public institutions for fostering economic growth and lifting living standards, is available for download: Good public institutions 'essential for growth'

APEC Gets Busy Behind the Borders

An article in the Australian Financial Review written by Professor Bob Buckle (Principal Advisor at the Treasury and Chair of the APEC Economic Committee), about APEC's new structural policy agenda is available for download (for a small charge): APEC Gets Busy Behind the Borders

Border Barriers Impede APEC Integration

An article in the National Business Review drawing on the Treasury Working Paper (Buckle and Cruickshank, 2007) on "The Challenge of Structural Change in APEC Economies", is available for download (by subscribers):
Border Barriers Impede APEC Integration  

APEC Mulls Shift from Trade Focus

An article from the Australian Financial Review on APEC's focus on domestic economic reforms  is available for download (for a small charge): APEC Mulls Shift from Trade Focus

The Challenge of Structural Change in APEC Economies

A Treasury Working Paper on The Challenge of Structural Change in APEC Economies (released ) is available for download.
The Challenge of Structural Change in APEC Economies

APEC Moves Behind the Borders: Taking on Structural Reform

The lead article in the APEC E-Newsletter (Vol. 13, June 2007) about APEC's structural reform agenda is available for download: APEC E-Newsletter (Vol. 13, June 2007)

Professor Bob Buckle appointed as new Chair of the APEC Economic Committee

The media release on the appointment of the new Economic Committee Chair is available for download: Professor Bob Buckle appointed as new Chair of the APEC Economic Committee