Strengthening Economic Cooperation: The Asia Foundation Hosts APEC Secretariat in San Francisco and Silicon Valley

The Asia Foundation hosted a delegation from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat led by Executive Director Rebecca Sta Maria. More than 35 stakeholders from Silicon Valley and the Bay Area came together to discuss the importance of economic cooperation in Asia and the Pacific region, trade, inclusive growth, and what to expect for APEC USA 2023, which will culminate in November at the APEC Economic Leaders and the CEO Summit in San Francisco.

APEC is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific region. Every year, one of the 21 APEC member economies hosts APEC meetings and serves as the APEC Chair. This year, the United States is the APEC 2023 host promoting the theme of Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All.”

The Asia Foundation has partnered with APEC on multiple program initiatives in recent years. This partnership builds on The Asia Foundation’s decades of support for regional economic cooperation in Asia and the Pacific. In recent years, our collaboration with the APEC Secretariat and host economies—including Viet Nam, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Thailand—has focused on research and policy recommendations that promote an inclusive digital economy.

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by decades of experience and deep local expertise, our work across the region is focused on good governance, women’s empowerment and gender equality, inclusive economic growth, environment and climate action, and regional and international relations.

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