Following the path established in the Beijing Roadmap for APEC ’ s Contribution to the Realisation of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific ( FTAAP ) in 2014 , we reiterate our commitment to the eventual realisation of the FTAAP as a major instrument to further deepen APEC ’ s regional economic integration agenda . With this vision , we endorse the Collective Strategic Study on Issues Related to the Realisation of FTAAP and its Executive Summary . Furthermore , we endorse the Recommendations of the Study as the Lima Declaration on FTAAP .
Services Sector
We acknowledge that the services sector is a major contributor to productivity and growth within APEC . Improved competitiveness in services as well as growth in services trade through an open and predictable environment for access to services is one of the key factors for APEC to boost its economic growth . We also recognise that we need to address barriers that inhibit our businesses from competing or trading in services markets . We therefore endorse the APEC Services Competitiveness Roadmap and instruct officials to monitor and evaluate progress in implementing the Roadmap , taking concrete actions and pursuing mutually agreed targets that will facilitate services trade and investment and enhance the competitiveness of the services sector , while addressing factors constraining the growth of trade as well as considering the differences in economic and social circumstances across APEC economies .
We recognise that innovation is a key driver of quality growth . In this regard , we encourage efforts to identify new growth engines , and will embrace the opportunities brought forth by sectors such as the Internet and Digital Economy .
We welcome the endorsement of the next steps to advance our work on digital trade and the progress made in Internet Economy co-operation . We instruct officials to continue to advance work in accordance with the agreed work plan endorsed by Ministers . We also welcome APEC economies ’ initiatives and leadership to explore new areas of potential economic growth in the area of digital trade and related issues , such as those identified by Ministers .
We recall the APEC Leaders 2011 Honolulu Declaration and recognise the importance of implementing the APEC Cross- Border Privacy Rules ( CBPR )
System , a voluntary mechanism whose participants seek to increase the number of economies , companies , and accountability agents that participate in the CBPR System .
We will collaborate to unleash the potential of the digital economy and strongly support an accessible , open , interoperable , reliable and secure Information and Communications Technology ( ICT ) environment as an essential foundation for economic growth and prosperity . We will continue to promote the policy and regulatory environment to ensure ICT security , data and privacy protection by developing interoperable and flexible frameworks . We also affirm that economies should not conduct or support ICT-enabled theft of intellectual property ( IP ) or other confidential business information , with the intent of providing competitive advantages to companies and commercial sectors . We also affirm the importance of promoting competition , entrepreneurship , and innovation through effective and comprehensive measures , including balanced IP systems and capacity-building .
Small Enterprises
We recognise that micro , small and medium-sized enterprises ( MSMEs ) are an essential component for economies to achieve quality growth and prosperity . As sources of innovation and employment ,
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