APEC: History

1989 APEC begins as an informal Ministerial-level dialogue group with 12 members.

1991 Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Hong Kong, and the People’s Republic of China join APEC.

1993 APEC Economic Leaders meet for the first time and outline APEC’s vision, “stability, security, and prosperity for our peoples.” Mexico and Papua New Guinea join APEC.

1994 APEC sets the Bogor Goals of “free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for developed countries and 2020 for developing countries.” Chile joins APEC.

1995 APEC adopts the Osaka Action Agenda (OAA) which provides a framework for meeting the Bogor Goals through trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation and sectoral activities.

1996 The Manila Action Plan for APEC (MAPA) is adopted, outlining the trade and investment liberalization and facilitation measures to reach the Bogor Goals.

1998 Peru, Russia, and Vietnam join APEC.

1999 APEC commits to paperless trading by 2005 in developed countries and 2010 in developing countries.

2000 APEC establishes an electronic Action Plan and aims to triple Internet access throughout APEC region by 2005.

2003 APEC agrees to re-energize the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations and stresses the complementary aims of bilateral and regional trade agreements, the Bogor Goals and the multilateral trading system under the WTO.

2007 For the first time, APEC Member Economies issue a Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security, and Clean Development outlining future action in support of new international climate change arrangement and announcing a forward program of practical, cooperative actions and initiatives.

2008 APEC leaders addressed the global financial crisis, committing to take all necessary economic and financial measures to restore stability.

2009 The first-ever joint meetings of APEC senior trade and finance officials are held to address the economic crisis. APEC launches the Supply-Chain Connectivity Framework and the Ease of Doing Business Action Plan to make doing business in the region 25 percent cheaper, faster and easier by 2015.

2011 APEC resolves to reduce applied tariff rates of environmental goods to 5 percent or less by 2015, taking into account economies' economic circumstances.

2012 APEC creates a List of Environmental Goods that directly and positively contribute to sustainable energy development goals. APEC seeks to become more transparent in future generations of trade and investment, and the leaders endorsed the Model Chapter on Transparency for RTA's/FTA's.

2013 The "Bali Package" is concluded at the 9th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in order to boost global trade.

2014 APEC Leaders commit to taking a concrete step towards greater regional economic integration by endorsing a roadmap to translate the vision of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) into a reality.

2015 APEC Leaders united behind the opportunity to build inclusive economies in a bid to make economic growth felt broadly by more sectors in society.

2016 APEC Leaders reaffirmed the member economies’ confidence in international trade as a mechanism for achieving positive economic and social change. This is after throwing their support behind an agenda that pursues inclusive growth as the Asia-Pacific region takes strides to achieve a free and open trade area.

December 19, 2019 The institutional reform of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) was ordered by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of ECCAS to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of ECCAS with the aim of achieving a major qualitative leap in the governance of the Organization to make it a viable and strong Regional Economic Community, endowed with an Executive architecture renovated and adapted to the challenges of the day.