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Investment Experts' Group |
Investment is integral to economic growth and development in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Investment Experts Group (IEG) was established by the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) in 1994 to develop a set of Non-binding Investment Principles. It continues to assist the CTI with its efforts to enhance transparency of investment regimes, facilitate investment activities promote investment liberalization within the region and to encourage and facilitate free and open investment in the region. Work in this area also provides an opportunity for private sector and government officials to exchange views on investment issues.
Achievements
IEG has concluded the first and second stages of the multi-year study on reducing behind-the-borders barriers to investment. The first stage of the study demonstrated the importance of addressing behind-the-border barriers, which not only restrict the level of and benefits from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), but also restrain domestic investment, which is 14 times as large as FDI in the APEC region. The second stage of the study took stock of the institutional mechanisms and capacity currently available across APEC that can nurture support for domestic reform of investment-related policies.
The rise in investment disputes is a new challenge for both investors and government officials. The increasing number of investment agreements with more complexity and regulatory difficulties in their proper implementation is considered as one of factors behind this phenomenon. In October 2006 the IEG and UNCTAD undertook a study on this issue and organized a seminar in Mexico to develop human resources and institutional capacity in the management of investor-state dispute settlement cases.
As a follow-up activity, a two-day workshop on capacity building was conducted in Manila in April 2007 in coordination with UNCTAD, which reviewed key substantive issues emerging from recent dispute settlement cases and their impact on the formulation of investment policies, the negotiation and the implementation of International Investment Agreements (IIAs).
IEG and the Group on Services (GOS) organized a joint capacity building seminar on the relationship between investment and trade in services in RTAs and other international investment agreement in April 2007.
And the IEG also organized a High-Level Public-Private Policy Dialogue on the Policy Framework for Investment (PFI) in April 2007. The Dialogue exchanged views between high level policymakers, international organizations and donor banks and business people on how this new tool could help to improve the investment climate in the APEC region.
The IEG held a Symposium on Investment Liberalization and Facilitation in May 2007 to deepen understanding of the Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) performance and importance of sound governance. The Seminar for Promoting Public-Private Sector Dialogue held in June 2007 in Cairns discussed improvement of investment environment and promotion of investment facilitation. Another seminar on achieving better practice by APEC investment promotion agencies provided various insights related to IPAs' roles in policy advocacy and dispute resolution.
The 6th edition of the Guide to the Investment Regimes of the APEC Member Economies was published in September 2007. The Guidebook is produced through the contributions of APEC member economies working with local business communities. It is expected to help investors to overcome the lack of clarity in regulations and procedures which exists across APEC economies.
Current Activities
- The study on identifying core elements related to investment in existing RTAs and FTAs and Bilateral Investment Treaties is underway. The study will contribute to ongoing efforts by member economies to develop model measures of RTAs/FTAs in investment.
Investment Related Links
The IEG has compiled a comprehensive set of links to investment related information in APEC Member Economies to make it easier for investors to access information before trading in the Asia-Pacific region. To access these links, simply click here.
Investment - Key Contacts
Convenor
Mr Roy Nixon
Manager
Investment and Compliance Unit
Foreign Investment and Trade Policy Division
The Treasury
Langton Cres, PARKES ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
E-mail: rnixon@treasury.gov.au
APEC Secretariat
Ms Hiroko Taniguchi
Director (Program)
E-mail: ht@apec.org