Press Release – APEC Issued by the APEC Secretariat Singapore, 5 June 2021 APEC trade ministers joined the Asia-Pacific business leaders on Friday to hear from the private sector their views toward the forums focus on regional economic integration, trade implications … Issued by the APEC Secretariat Singapore, 5 June 2021 APEC trade ministers joined the Asia-Pacific business leaders on Friday to hear from the private sector their views toward the forum’s focus on regional economic integration, trade implications resulting from the economic response to COVID-19 and how economies can be made more resilient to future shocks. “Free, fair and open trade has unlocked massive growth across the Asia-Pacific,” said New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Export Growth, Damien O’Connor who is also the 2021 Chair of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting. “But without the energy of the business community this growth would not have occurred.”