Ingenieur Vol 61 January-March 2015 | Page 45

SPECIAL REPORT APEC Strategic Blueprint - Global Value Chains Development and Co-operation Compiled by Jane Fong Jeng Sing Global Value Chains (GVCs) are an increasingly common way of organising production in the AsiaPacific, and elsewhere in the world. Goods are moving across borders multiple times before being shipped to the final consumer at the end of a complex production process. GVCs allow businesses to work together across borders to capitalise on the advantages that different economies offer. APEC Economic leaders gathered for the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders Meeting on November 11, 2014 in Beijing and recognised that GVCs have become a dominant feature of the global economy and offer new prospects for growth, competitiveness and job creation for APEC economies at all levels of development. At the conclusion of the meeting, the APEC leaders endorsed the APEC Strategic Blueprint for promoting Global Value Chains Development and Co-operation. G APEC STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT VCs have become a dominant feature of the global economy. Better understanding and supporting the “trading tasks” involved in adding value to the final products that cross borders has become paramount to realising a more effective policy and regulatory framework for global trade. Efficient and workable GVCs within and between APEC economies has accordingly become a key focus for economies at all levels of development. Given the diverse needs and situations of APEC economies participating in global trade networks today, an overall policy direction guiding improved co-operation and a more focused GVC evolution is essential to facilitating sustainable, inclusive and balanced growth in the Asia-Pacific region. 43