Information about APEC
ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC)

APEC came to Los Cabos, Mexico on October 21, 2002 to October 27, 2002


Information from October 7, 2002

Information was difficult to get from the APEC offices. We talked with people that were assisting with the summit and we gathered the following general information.

The world leaders were in town from the 26th and 27th with support people the 25th to 28th.

Most of the conferences were held at hotels in the Cabo Real Development and Cabo del Sol Development. Those specific areas will have very tight security for those days and perhaps a week prior.

The airport, highway and port were open but with more security measures. There was no major disruptions on the highway except when motorcades were using the highways.

Taxi service were operational. Rental cars and transportation services were difficult to obtain unless you have prior confirmed reservations.

In general it was similar to a normal very busy high season weekend in the Cabo San Lucas area. Cabo itself was not overly effected. Traffic will be worse than normal but most construction will be complete by then.

About APEC

Since its inception in November 1989, APEC has grown from an informal dialogue of 12 Pacific Rim economies to a major regional institution with 21 members. Ministerial meetings take place annually and the chairmanship rotates among the members. Mexico currently holds the APEC chair and will host ministerial and leaders' meetings in 2002.

The United States works closely with APEC and sees it as an important part of U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. In the U.S. view, APEC is the most promising forum for achieving a more open regional economy, encouraging economic growth, and fostering prosperity and opportunity throughout the region.

APEC remains America's primary vehicle for advancing both economic cooperation and trade and investment liberalization in the Asia-Pacific region.

Current APEC member economies are:
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, and Vietnam.