ABAC's annual report to APEC Economic Leaders outline business views about priority regional issues and contain recommendations to improve the business and investment environment in the APEC region. Many of ABAC's recommendations, for example the idea of a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP), have become core APEC activities. 

Building on the progress made in the previous year, ABAC has decided to adopt the theme “Aspirations to Reality”. ABAC will closely coordinate with APEC senior officials to ensure the efficient coordination and collaboration and remain result-oriented in targeting tangible outcome to contribute to achieving the Bogor Goals

At the first ABAC meeting in Hong Kong, China on 21-24 February 2012, the Council endorsed priorities and action plans of its working groups this year, including:

• The Regional Economic Integration Working Group: (i) Accelerating trade and investment liberalisation; (ii) Initiating a new services agenda; and (iii) Enhancing supply chain connectivity (policy and facilitation aspects).

• The Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) & Entrepreneurship Working Group:  (i) Improving market access for SMMEs; (ii) Capacity building for SMMEs; and (iii) Enhancing SMMEs’ access to financing. ABAC representatives in Australia; Canada; China; and Peru will work to further these priority work areas and report to members at the second ABAC meeting in May 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

• The Sustainable Development Working Group: (i) Strengthening food security by increasing food technology dissemination, developing food export/import infrastructure, as well as facilitating food trade within the region; (ii) Promoting energy efficiency and facilitating trade in EGS; and (iii) Fostering technology transfer and cutting edge technology investment.

• The Finance and Economics Working Group: (i) Strengthening the stability of financial markets to support trade; (ii) Promoting practical solutions to support the importance of inclusiveness and access to finance for SMMEs; and (iii) Advising APEC Leaders and Finance Ministers on the implication for the Asia-Pacific region on G20 recommendations, particularly through monitoring of G20 developments in the context of regional economic integration.

• The Infrastructure Development Working Group: (i) Developing a policy and regulatory environment that promotes the development of infrastructure; (ii) Effectively applying infrastructure resources; and (iii) Implementing effective policies for infrastructure maintenance and reconstruction.

• The Action Plan and Advocacy Working Group to continue monitoring the coordination between ABAC and APEC.

ABAC will actively work to develop the ABAC 2012 Report to APEC Economic Leaders, which put forward key recommendations of ABAC to the APEC leaders.

• The first ABAC Meeting was held on 21-24 February 2012 in Hong Kong, China (media release).
• The second ABAC Meeting will be held on 21-24 May  2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• The third ABAC Meeting will be held on 16-19 July 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
• The fourth ABAC Meeting will be held on 4-7 September 2012 in Rusky Island, Vladivostok, Russia.