New Zealand led the successful development of the Aotearoa Plan of Action(external link), which will set the direction of APEC’s work for the next 20 years. The plan is an important legacy for New Zealand’s host year, highlighting APEC’s commitment to creating an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community for future generations.
One of New Zealand’s responsibilities as APEC 2021 host was leading the development of an implementation plan to bring the Putrajaya Vision to life. Agreed by the 21 APEC Leaders, the Aotearoa Plan of Action will set the direction of APEC’s work for the next 20 years.
The plan brings to life the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 that APEC Leaders adopted in 2020.
The Vision is a bold new approach for APEC. Established 32 years ago to promote cooperation in trade and investment, APEC is now broadening its focus into new areas. Over 2021, APEC economies worked together and agreed to cooperate on digital technology and innovation, environmental sustainability, including climate change, and inclusion, particularly of women and indigenous peoples.
The Aotearoa Plan of Action sets out clear individual actions for economies to work on through their domestic policy. One example is for economies to develop tools to help businesses operate across borders easily and cost effectively.
There are also larger, collective actions, where economies will work together. Two examples are for APEC to consider climate change when making all decisions, and to recommit economies to double their renewable energy use by 2030.
The plan has measurable elements so progress can be monitored and tracked. And it’s flexible to make sure that APEC stays relevant and responsive. The world is changing fast and APEC will need to keep pace and adapt as new challenges emerge over the next 20 years.
Read the Aotearoa Plan of Action in full(external link)
The back story
APEC Leaders adopted the Putrajaya Vision in 2020 during Malaysia’s host year (Putrajaya is a city in Malaysia). Guiding APEC’s agenda for the next 20 years, the Putrajaya Vision outlined a vision of an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community, for the prosperity of all its people and future generations.
The action plan expands on the three drivers of economic growth that were identified in the Putrajaya Vision: trade and investment, innovation and digitisation, and sustainable and inclusive growth.
Aotearoa Plan of Action