Media release

Australian Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile

Monday, June 5, 2000
MVT61/2000

New APEC Website for Business: BizAPEC.com

Trade Minister, Mark Vaile, today launched a new APEC website for business, BizAPEC.com, on the eve of the Darwin APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting (June 6-7).

"BizAPEC.com breaks new ground for business in the region by providing a vast range of essential business information on-line," Mr Vaile said.

"It helps businesses to identify and access regional markets more easily and quickly and cuts through bureaucracy to save valuable time and money … all through a single web address.

"Australian exporters will be able to use BizAPEC.com to explore regional business opportunities, compare export markets, check tariff levels, customs and standards requirements, access laws and regulations, find business visa information, and make contact with government agencies and industry associations around the region.

"The website will be very handy for small and medium-sized exporters who often lack the resources needed to track down information and cut through government bureaucracy in diverse markets around the region," Mr Vaile said.

The business information provided will cover the 21 APEC member economies - including some of the world's largest export markets.

Information available through BizAPEC.com will include business opportunities, sectoral industry information, laws, rules and regulations for getting goods to market, regional export markets and business involvement in APEC.

The 21 APEC economies accounted for 73 per cent of Australia's merchandise exports in 1999. APEC comprises: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, US, and Vietnam.