The 17th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting was held in Singapore between 14 and 15 November 2009. The landmark meeting saw the United States promising to increase its engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which it described as “a key partner in promoting regional peace and stability”.[1] The two-day APEC meeting was a culmination of a series of meetings and events held from February to November that year. During this period, more than 15,000 delegates from the 21 APEC member economies attended about 123 meetings and events in Singapore.[2]
Several outcomes were achieved during the 2009 APEC meetings held under the theme of “Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region”. To wrap up the series of meetings, the APEC ministers pledged their commitment to sustainable growth supported by innovation and a knowledge-based economy for the creation of jobs and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.[3]
The 17th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore marked Barack Obama’s first visit to Asia in his official capacity as president of the United States of America.[4] The Singapore government had a budget of “just over S$100 million” to host the year-long APEC meetings.[5] A fleet of 295 BMW 7 and 5 series cars with special “APEC Singapore 2009” licence plates were used to chauffeur the VIPs around during the meetings.[6]
Beyond the usual business meetings and forums, social events and programmes showcasing 376 local artists and local gastronomical delights were organised for the attending world leaders and their spouses to experience Singapore’s softer side.[7] As part of the APEC tradition of having each political leader dressed in a costume that reflects the culture of the host country, the leaders at the Singapore forum wore Peranakan-inspired outfits created by award-winning Singapore designer Wykidd Song. The outfit featured an embroidered hybrid lotus design with 21 petals representing the 21 APEC economies.[8]
References
1. Velloor, R. (2009, November 16). Closer Asean-US ties with historic summit. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore. (2010, January 7). Singapore – A proud host of APEC 2009. Retrieved 28 October, 2013, from Ministry of Trade and Industry website: http://www.mti.gov.sg/MTIInsights/Pages/APEC.aspx
3. Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore, 7 Jan 2010.
4. Lee, U.-W. (2009, November 12). Obama or not, CEO summit will be special: Organisers. The Business Times, p. 12. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Lee, U.-W. (2009, September 2). $100m budget for Apec meetings. The Business Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. BMW cars for Apec meetings. (2009, July 11). The Business Times, p. 13. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. Apec delegates to get taste of S’pore cuisine, music, arts. (2009, October 22). The Business Times, p. 10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Wykidd Song creation for Apec leaders. (2009, October 29). The Business Times, p, 9. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
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The information in this article is valid as at 2014 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
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