Key Achievements
Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting 2008
An inaugural Structural
Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM) was held in August 2008 in
Melbourne, Australia. Ministers explored: the benefits of structural reform,
with a particular focus on regulatory reform; strategies for successful
implementation of reform, including political challenges; and the importance of
robust legislative and institutional frameworks. A dialogue with business also
considered how and why structural reform is important to regional private sector
players.
A range of measures were agreed and outlined in the Joint Ministerial Statement
including:
- Endorsed the EC's Good
Practice Guide on Regulatory Reform which will help member
economies design and improve their own regulatory frameworks;
- Tasked the EC to develop a process of voluntary self-reviews of economies'
institutional frameworks that support structural reform;
- Asked the EC to report back to Leaders on progress in implementing the
LAISR agenda, and on how the EC can continue with structural reform
initiatives beyond 2010;
- Requested the EC to strengthen its capacity building program on structural
reform;
- Encouraged the EC to draw on the expertise of the new APEC
Policy Support Unit (PSU) which has been tasked to undertake
research on key aspects of the LAISR agenda.
Economic Committee Initiatives in 2008
The following initiatives were carried out by the EC in 2008:
- The 2008
APEC Economic Policy Report (AEPR). The AEPR emphasises the
important role competition policy reform plays in achieving structural
reform. A strong competition policy and legal framework helps to drive
greater productivity, efficiency, product quality and diversity and results
in greater choice and lower prices for consumers.
- A SOM
Policy Dialogue on Structural Reform held in February
examined the key elements of structural reform, exploring the links between
behind-the-border microeconomic policies, economic growth and macroeconomic
stability. The Dialogue looked at why economies should begin or continue
structural reform; what the pitfalls and impediments can be, and how to
tackle these often complex reforms, which range from regulatory reform and
improving public sector performance management to creating one-stop-shops
for business licensing and strengthening competition laws.
- A Workshop
on E-governance, also held in February, aimed at raising
awareness among member economies of the role of information and
communication technologies as an enabler for good public sector governance.
The discussions covered three key areas: e- administration for better
accountability; e-services for better efficiency and transparency; and
e-participation by citizens for better policy making.
- A Workshop
on Government Performance and Results Management took place
in March and looked at sharing best practices in planning and setting
objectives for government agencies, monitoring and measuring the progress of
agencies, and performance evaluation.
- A Seminar
on Corporate Governance, held in August in Lima, Peru,
brought together the private sector, including representatives of regional
stock exchanges, Institutes of Directors and the APEC Business Advisory
Council (ABAC); the World Bank; the OECD and EC representatives. The Seminar
increased awareness within APEC of the importance of corporate governance
reform and fostered a better understanding of tools such as the OECD
Principles of Corporate Governance. The outcomes will feed into several
targeted capacity building initiatives in 2009 and 2010.
- A Seminar
on Best Practices in Regulation and Promotion of Efficiency in Transport
Infrastructure Facilities also took place in August, in Lima,
Peru, to examine regulatory and competition policy experiences in transport
infrastructure in APEC member economies. Participants heard how effective
transport infrastructure helps increase market size and competition and
promotes efficiency. They also noted that further work could be undertaken
in regulatory reform and encouraged public-private partnerships for
infrastructure development.
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