Deloitte Delegation to APEC CEO Summit 2017

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is the premier Asia-Pacific economic forum, established in 1989 to leverage growing opportunities for further interdependence and integration across its 21 member economies. The APEC CEO Summit takes place in November during APEC Leaders’ week, and serves as the annual high-level meeting for businesses and government officials to meet and discuss priority policy issues in the region. This is the sixth CEO Summit that Deloitte leaders have attended.

Supporting inclusive growth

This year’s APEC theme is ‘Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future.’ Vietnam is 2017 APEC host economy. One of the key areas of discussion at the CEO Summit will be how business, government, and society can work more closely together to foster inclusive growth.

Within the APEC community, emphasis has been placed on finding ways to move from a focus on economic growth, to one that also considers sustainable development and social impact.

A key contributing factor to this is understanding how to measure growth. This is why Deloitte supports the Social Progress Index, which looks at key performance indicators that ultimately turn economic progress into social outcomes.

This is increasingly important today, with wide recognition that the system that has brought great wealth to much of the APEC region, has also left millions of people behind. By focusing on a more inclusive approach to development and growth, businesses and governments active in APEC are seeking to champion and contribute to an economic system that works for all.

Embracing the full potential of the digital and technological advancements brought on by the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) is a key element to supporting inclusive growth. Through our recently launched WorldClass initiative, Deloitte is committing our core skills, experience, and global reach to empower more people through education, skills development, and access to opportunity. This organization-wide initiative has set the ambitious goal of preparing 50 million for a future of opportunity. There is a great deal of overlap between the impact of WorldClass and where the APEC agenda is striving to inform and foster debate for smart policies around growth.

Balancing growth through trade

On the margins of the CEO Summit, Deloitte will be co-hosting a roundtable discussion focused on ‘Trade, Technology and Globalization: How to Foster Inclusive Growth.’ Deloitte Global Chairman David Cruickshank will moderate the panel discussion, features a keynote from WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo.

APEC is uniquely positioned as a forum to convene discussions on how to ensure that trade works for all. APEC member economies represent both developed and developing, and account for 60% of global GDP, 50% of world trade, and 2.8 billion people. APEC matters; APEC can make an impact. Sustainable and balanced economic progress will hinge on a trading system that embraces open and integrated markets, while adeptly being able to adjust to changes shaping tomorrow’s global marketplace.