APD | Third Preparatory Meeting of APTA CCI opens in Beijing

The Third Preparatory Meeting of Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement Chamber of Commerce and Industry (APTA CCI) opened in Beijing on Tuesday, aiming to promote the construction of the chamber's headquarters in the Chinese capital and a multilateral cooperation platform for private firms in Asia-Pacific countries.

The one-day meeting summed up the chamber’s achievements ever since it was established, and discussed on issues of organizational design, important projects, annual general meeting and development planning.

Mr. Wang Yanguo, chairman of China International Chamber of Commerce for the Private Sector and executive chairman of APTA CCI

Wang Yanguo, chairman of China International Chamber of Commerce for the Private Sector and executive chairman of APTA CCI, hailed the contributions made by member countries especially the leading role of Sri Lanka.

“As a founding member of the APTA CCI, we expect to see more results from the intergovernmental multilateral cooperation mechanism. We also hope that through our joint efforts, the organization will play an active and unique role in multilateral cooperation mechanism, so as to enhance new cooperation, create a new platform, ensure new development and build a new Asia-Pacific region”, said Wang.

Dr. Rohitha Silva, President of APTA CCI and vice president of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka

President of APTA CCI Dr. Rohitha Silva, also vice president of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, said that APTA CCI will help individuals and member countries realize their values in the group by integrating their resources while stressing each member’s interests will be considered.

“As the one of the founding members, I’m very proud of this”, he said.

As an economic and trade organization in the Asia-Pacific region, APTA covers about 3 billion people, accounting for some 40% of world’s population. The region’s aggregate GDP is about 26 trillion US dollars, accounting for some 30% of the global total. APTA has developed into a regional multilateral cooperation platform benefiting private enterprises in Asia-Pacific countries.

Since the Second Amendment of the APTA CCI came into force on 1st July 2018, tariffs on 10,312 items of member countries have been reduced, with an average decline of 33%. In addition, 1,259 products from developed countries in the agreement were given the preferential tax rate, with an average decline of as high as 86%.

Among the attendees attending the meeting included representatives from six founding member countries, Wang Yanguo from China and Silva from Sri Lanka, Ajith D. Perera, secretary-general of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka, Dinuk Hettiarachchi, vice president of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka, Shafquat Haider, director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Saharia Mahesh Kumar, chairman of Indian Chamber of Commerce (North East) Center for Promotion of India-China Cooperation, Otgondavaa Amartuvshin, chairman of Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Davaalkhumbe Battulga, director of Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Souvannavong Outdet, chairman of Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)