Aotearoa Plan of Action
The key legacy for New Zealand from APEC 2021 was the completion of the Aotearoa Plan of Action (APA)(external link), the implementation plan to bring the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040(external link) to life.
The plan will see member economies take action to achieve the Vision’s goals on trade, open markets, innovation, productivity reforms, climate change and indigenous economic empowerment. It will shape economic growth in the Asia Pacific region for the next two decades.
Regional response to COVID-19
In 2021, APEC made it easier and faster for communities all over the world to obtain life-saving vaccines. As 2021 host, New Zealand drove a collaborative response across APEC to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.
Most significantly, consensus was built on easing trade in vaccines by:
- Rejecting export restrictions;
- Supporting a waiver for trade-related intellectual property rights for COVID-19 medicines;
- Making it easier and faster to get vaccines and other essential goods through ports, and cutting tariffs on vaccines and related products; and
- Securing a commitment that APEC will look at simplifying COVID-19 measures for air crew, as part of APEC’s support for a return of international trade.
Trade and economic policies to strengthen recovery
With the Asia-Pacific accounting for almost 50% of global trade, it was vital that APEC economies worked together to weather the impact of the largest global shock in a generation and position the region for a strong recovery. APEC members joined together in their support for the World Trade Organization and rejecting protectionism.
Sustainability in APEC’s agenda
APEC 2021 successfully cemented APEC’s focus on climate change for years to come.
Progress was made in facilitating trade in environmental goods and services which help benefit the environment and mitigate climate change impacts, and in agreeing a plan to stop the increase in damaging fossil fuel subsidies. These subsidies mask the true cost of fossil fuels, making other energy options seem more expensive in comparison.
Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and women
In 2021, New Zealand’s unique contribution on inclusion was to ensure that the region’s 270 million Indigenous Peoples had a place in APEC’s agenda. We worked in partnership with Māori and increased connections between Māori and Indigenous Peoples of the Asia-Pacific for APEC the long-term.
We also built on APEC’s existing work programme on women’s economic empowerment, focusing on how to reverse the US$1 trillion shock of women being driven out of the workforce due to the pandemic.
Digital innovation
APEC 2021 saw agreement on the importance of the digital economy in driving economic growth..
New Zealand led a wide range digital innovation initiatives, including projects on:
- paperless trade;
- innovation policies;
- rural broadband access;
- digital skills training;
- online learning; and
- food sustainability.
Other APEC-related 2021 meetings
As part of New Zealand’s host year, we facilitated meetings of a number of other APEC-adjacent groups.
CEO summit
The APEC CEO Summit 2021 was a virtual gathering of some of the world’s most prominent businesspeople, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and world leaders.
They talked about the ways the region can learn from each other and work together and to ensure it emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever. Watch the APEC CEO Summit 2021 presentations(external link)
APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
The APEC Business Advisory Council is a strong voice for business. ABAC is an independent group of business leaders advising APEC leaders on priority issues for business in the region. It was made up of three private sector representatives from each APEC economy. ABAC met several times during 2021, and then was hosted by New Zealand in-person at the beginning of 2023.
Find out more about ABAC(external link)
Download the APEC Business Advisory Group 2021 report(external link)
Voices of the Future
Youth engagement with APEC issues was restored through our championing of the Voices of the Future. A number of practical suggestions to help solve global issues was delivered to APEC leaders by youth delegates participating in APEC Voices of the Future 2021.
Download the APEC 2021 Voices of the Future Youth Declaration(external link)