In Los Cabos, Mexico 2002, APEC Leaders agreed that terrorism represented a severe threat to the region, and decided that a new Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Initiative would be introduced as a matter of urgency.
Discussions at the STAR Conference have focused on policies and procedures to enhance security and efficiency in the APEC region's seaports, airports and other access points, including port and airport security; shipping container security; coastal patrol; capacity building; financial assistance, and private sector initiatives. The STAR initiative is also fostering coordination between public and private entities that it is highly necessary to counteract terrorist threats through the supply chain.
The STAR Conferences have had the active participation of all 21 APEC member economies, senior executives from major private sector companies, and representatives from international organizations.
The Sixth Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR VI) Conference took place in Lima from 20 to 21 August 2008. It was hosted by Peru. The conference reinforced APEC's secure trade agenda by identifying practical ways to implement the mandate of Leaders' and Ministerial statements and, in partnership with the private sector, identifying ways of mitigating risks to the supply chain, without compromising the flow of trade. Participants shared information and exchanged ideas on the vulnerabilities of the region; identified successful experiences in other regions and explored ideas on how to strengthen international cooperation and legal and political measures to combat international terrorism.
The Fifth Secure Trade in the APEC Region Conference took place in Sydney from 27 to 28 June 2007, hosted by Australia. The theme "Mitigating Risks: Containing Costs", was a recognition that enhancing safety and security for people and cargo between APEC economies brings with it increased costs. The conference underlined the need for governments to work with industry in public-private partnerships if this challenge is to be met. There was considerable participation in STAR V from public and private sector representatives from APEC economies. The key conclusion was that there was scope to further harmonize, identify and supply chain security measures across APEC economies and this could contribute to broader international efforts.
The Fourth STAR Conference held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam on 23-24 February 2006 attached great importance to enhancing public-private partnership as an effective way in ensuring secure trade, human security and reducing any adverse impacts of anti-terrorism activities on the trade and investment development in the APEC region. The Conference recommended that enhancing public-private partnership is crucial for effectively and efficiently promoting secured trade in the region; that the private sector, including small and medium enterprises, should not be viewed simply as fund providers but as a partner in implementing security measures.
The Third STAR Conference held in Incheon, Korea on 25-26 February 2005, focused on development of trade while enhancing security as well as cooperation and capacity building through public-private partnership. The conference addressed the issues of aviation and maritime security, and encouraged the active participation by the business sector. The conference also recommended future programs that are intended to encourage greater private sector participation in trade and security issues.
The Second STAR Conference held in Viņa del Mar, Chile from 4 to 6 March 2004 initiated a series of actions that were then endorsed by APEC Leaders. These included: Steps to advance compliance with the International Maritime Organization's new Ship and Port Security Standards through cooperative efforts; Financial contributions made to the Asian Development Bank's Regional Trade and Financial Security Initiative; Progress in implementing business mobility initiatives, including the Advance Passenger Information systems; The development of a Regional Movement Alert List System; and Cooperation for the issuance of machine readable travel documents by 2008.
The First STAR Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand on 23-25 February 2003, discussed how to advance trade efficiency and trade security in Asia-Pacific and set important directions of the future STAR activities in addressing maritime security, aviation security, passenger information processing technology, capacity building, project planning and financing as well as supply chain security. It was agreed by member economies that the successful implementation of STAR measures requires strong partnership between government and business. The meeting also recognized that all economies have different levels of resources and skills to implement these measures and that well-planned capacity building measures would be thus useful for certain economies.
