The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is supporting corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes conducted by private parties in its efforts to sustain investment in the region.

"CSR is no longer considered as a charity event. It can be productive for the company and help improve the investment climate,” Antara news agency quoted Rizar Indomo Nazaroedindi, Director for Regional Cooperation from Indonesia`s Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), as saying.

CSR can help manage the supply chain for the company and encourage it to continue operating in a country for a long time, he added.

APEC economies should focus not only on deregulation and efforts to reduce investment barriers in the region, but also on how to sustain their current investments, he told reporters after attending the recent Senior Official Meeting of APEC in Jakarta.

"Maintaining investment in the region is becoming increasingly important today as the global economic slowdown continues," he noted.

Indonesia is hosting the APEC meeting for the second time since the inception of the organisation. In 1994, Indonesia hosted the APEC Summit in Bogor, West Java, where APEC leaders adopted the Bogor goals. The goals involved free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by 2010 for industrialised economies, and by 2020 for developing economies.

In order to achieve the Bogor goals, APEC focused on three areas: trade and investment liberalisation, business facilitation, and economic and technical cooperation.

In 2013, the APEC meeting will focus on the expansion of trade and investment, as well as on structural reforms.

Established in 1989, APEC consists of 21 Pacific rim economies.-VNA