APEC Human Resources Development Working Group

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia Pacific Region. The overall APEC vision is: Achieving stability, security, and prosperity for our people. APEC includes 9 out 12 of Australia’s main markets for education exports and 3 out of 4 of the world’s largest economies (2007 data).

APEC is working to achieve what are referred to as the ‘Bogor Goals’ of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for developed economies and 2020 for developing economies. Since its inception in 1989, APEC has helped to reduce tariffs and other barriers to trade in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC has also worked to ensure the safe and efficient movement of goods, services and people across the borders in the region through facilitating practical policy formulation in APEC economies and by facilitating economic and technical cooperation.

Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG)

The HRDWG was established in 1990 and is driven by its goal of promoting the well-being of all people in the region through economic growth and development. The Group streamlined its structure in 2000 by reducing its original five networks to three, focusing on capacity building, education, and labour and social protection.

One of eleven working groups within APEC, the HRDWG has three sub-networks which focus separately on education (Education Network: EDNET), capacity building (Capacity Building Network: CBN) and labour and social protection (Labour and Social Protection Network: LSPN). Through the activities of these networks, the Working Group is advancing two broad strands of activity: (i) economic and technical cooperation within the Asia-Pacific; and (ii) trade and investment liberalisation within the Asia-Pacific region.

APEC Member Economies

Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, Vietnam.

At APEC meetings reference is made to ‘member economies’ rather than countries.

Operation of APEC

APEC operates by consensus. Members conduct their activities and work programs on the basis of open dialogue with equal respect for the views of all participants. Participation in all APEC projects and activities is voluntary.

Participation by DEEWR

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations leads Australia’s participation in the APEC HRDWG.
The 30th Meeting of the APEC HRDWG was held in April 2008 in Tagbilaran, Philippines. Delegates from the 21 APEC member economies met to discuss human resources development in the APEC region, including new project proposals and progress on current projects.

More information about the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group, and about APEC, is available from the APEC Secretariat Home Page You are now leaving the DEST website or Mr Brett Pattinson, DEST, phone +61 2 6240 7486.