The Center will be the focal point to set up meetings between the US business leaders and the heads of state and ministers of the 21 economies that comprise APEC, as well as coordinate requests from the international media.

The US Business Center @ APEC is an initiative of the US APEC Business Coalition. The Coalition is comprised of the key American business organizations that focus on Asia Pacific countries and trade and investment. It was formed ahead of the first APEC Leaders Meeting hosted by US President William Clinton at Blake Island, near Seattle, Washington in 1993. Members of the Coalition include the National Center for APEC, US-ASEAN Business Council, US-Asia Pacific Council, US Chamber of Commerce, US-China Business Council and US-Japan Business Council.

Five American companies who are leaders in Thailand and the APEC region are sponsoring the US Business Center @ APEC. They are Banta Corporation, Citigroup, FedEx, Guardian Industries and Unocal Corporation. IBM Corporation provided in-kind technology support for the Center.

The US business delegation has indicated it will participate actively in the APEC CEO Summit. Through the US Business Center @ APEC, it will also organize private meetings with the Heads of State of Australia, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as with WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi.

Members of the media wishing to hold interviews with American executives at APEC may contact the US Business Center @ APEC at (662) 237-3754 or (662) 237-3722 or by e-mail echandran@usasean.org. Interested parties may review developments at APEC on the Center's website: www.us-asean.org/APEC/.

APEC includes 21 economies: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

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