Almost 200 executives, researchers and officials from 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum have registered to attend a meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in Danang City from August 24-27.

ABAC Vietnam President Hoang Van Dung told reporters on July 31 that the meeting is expected to call for a more congenial business climate, a better circulation of goods, capital and labour and a transparent legal system to protect the environment. The participants are likely to call on regional leaders to promote images of sustainably-developing cities as well as a regional programme on food.

Also high on the agenda at the meeting will be a discussion on an energy programme, measures to upgrade procedures to strengthen regional connections and the opening up of markets.

The discussion will also focus on assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an effort to speed up globalisation and integration, which Dung said the ABAC has done well in the recent past.

The ABAC Vietnam, for example, has successfully brought US, Japanese and Chinese giants to major investment projects in Vietnam , Dung emphasised.

He added that Vietnamese business circles themselves have managed to cash in on opportunities brought in by the ABAC to promote their own businesses as well as images of the Vietnamese economy and its business community.

As a result, investments into Vietnam from APEC members have risen dramatically. In 2009 alone, the Southeast Asian economy is expected to draw over 10 billion USD in foreign direct investment from other APEC members, the national ABAC chief said.

The ABAC was founded in November 1995 to provide a consultancy for APEC leaders on issues of primary importance related to business and investment in the region.

It is the only non-Governmental organisation to play an official role at APEC Summits./.