Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All
By Ambassador Matt Murray, U.S. Senior Official for APEC
During the week of November 11–17, the 2023 APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) will bring together leaders, ministers, senior officials, executives, and delegates from the 21 Asia-Pacific economies in the vibrant city of San Francisco.
Known as a global hub for innovation, technology, and finance, San Francisco stands as an attractive destination for businesses, including those from the APEC region, and the perfect backdrop to host AELW — the culmination of the United States’ successful APEC host year.
Hosting APEC in 2023 allowed the United States the opportunity to shape trade policies and drive economic growth in a dynamic region representing 40 percent of the world’s population, nearly half of global trade, and over 60 percent of the global economy. APEC members, including seven of our top ten trading partners, have invested over $1.7 trillion in the United States, providing jobs for 2.3 million American workers.
The depth of this trade and investment engagement underscores APEC’s strategic role in U.S. economic partnerships, as APEC stands as the premier platform for advancing economic policies, innovative ideas, and supporting businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to ensure prosperity for the American people and our partners.
Under the host year theme of “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All,” the United States has promoted an interconnected, innovative, and inclusive APEC region. Key areas of focus include trade and investment facilitation, gender equity and equality, clean energy, and climate. This year holds special significance as it marks the 30th anniversary of the inaugural APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, held in Blake Island, Washington, and celebrates our achievements over the past three decades in strengthening regional economic cooperation.
During our host year, we have sought to incorporate diverse perspectives, actively engaging numerous stakeholders, including micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, labor groups, academics and students, Indigenous community leaders, and women- owned businesses.
Likewise, private sector engagement played a crucial role in identifying opportunities and leveraging expertise for shared regional goals. It is, as we call it, “the Secret Sauce” of APEC’s success. APEC Economic Leaders’ Week is an opportunity to highlight the role of the private sector, both through the ABAC Dialogue with Leaders and the APEC CEO Summit, and, importantly, by pursuing an action-oriented set of outcomes in San Francisco.
The CEO Summit is an integral component of the APEC Leaders’ Week, providing a platform for business leaders and policymakers to engage in high-level discussions. It enables CEOs to directly interact with APEC leaders, sharing insights and recommendations on key economic issues. This engagement ensures that business perspectives are integrated into the decision-making process, enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of APEC policies and initiatives.
We take great pride in the work we have done this year through APEC, and we look forward to continuing this vital work with Peru, as next year’s host, and all our partners and stakeholders on our shared goal of creating a resilient and sustainable future for all, across the APEC region.
We thank the people of San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Palm Springs, and Honolulu for your warm hospitality and exceptional hosting during these historic meetings. The collective efforts of everyone involved in the U.S. APEC 2023 Host Year have played a vital role in its success.
About the Author: Ambassador Matt Murray currently serves as the U.S. Senior Official for APEC.
