APEC 2011 Descends on Hawaii

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, more fondly known as APEC, will descend on the shores of Hawaii for a weeklong event November 7^th – 13^th, and bring with it many representatives of its 21-member association of economies from the Asia-Pacific region, all of whom are working together to advance regional economic integration and prosperity.

Established in 1989, APEC has worked to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers across the Asia-Pacific region, facilitate business interactions between member nations, and improve training and education in international trade.

APEC is the only inter governmental grouping in the world operating on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants. Unlike the WTO or other multilateral trade bodies, APEC has no treaty obligations required of its participants. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis.

The government and local residents in Hawaii have slowly been preparing for the APEC Conference to descend on Hawaii ever since the announcement that the APEC Conference would be held in Hawaii was made in November of 2009. Now, two years later, the weeklong APEC Conference will take place the week of November 7^th – 13^th, with the entire event culminating with the 2011 APEC Leaders’ Meeting, which will take place in Honolulu on November 12th and 13th, 2011, ending the weeklong event.

President Barack Obama, 20 other heads of state and thousands of attendees will descend on Oahu next month. The attendees of the conference will fill 11 Waikiki hotel rooms, most notably the Hale Koa Hotel, the J.W. Marriott, Ihilani Ko Olina Resort & Spa, and all of these establishments will be shielded by 10-foot-high barricades.

Security on Oahu and throughout Hawaii will be very tight, and you can expect significant delays in certain areas, as the state has spared no expense in gearing up for APEC 2011.

APEC 2011 Calendar of Events

	ABAC IV November 7 – 10, 2011 Honolulu, HI
	APEC Business Advisory Council Meeting November 7 – 10, 2011 Hawaii Convention Center Honolulu, HI
	Concluding SOM (CSOM) November 8 – 9, 2011 Honolulu, HI
	APEC Voices of the Future November 8 – 12, 2011 Various Locations Honolulu, HI
	APEC Concluding Senior Officials Meeting November 8 – 9, 2011 Hawaii Convention Center Honolulu, HI
	APEC Finance Deputies Meeting November 9, 2011 Hawaii Convention Center Honolulu, HI
	Asia-Pacific Business Symposium Pacific Basin Economic Council / East-West Center Conference November 9 – 11, 2011 Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa Honolulu, HI
	2011 APEC CEO Summit November 10 – 12, 2011 Honolulu, HI
	Finance Ministers Meeting November 10, 2011 Honolulu, HI
	2011 APEC CEO Summit November 10 – 12, 2011 Sheraton Waikiki Hotel Honolulu, HI
	APEC Business Advisory Council Small and Medium Enterprises Symposium November 10, 2011 Halekulani Hotel Honolulu, HI
	APEC Ministerial Meetings November 10 – 11, 2011 Hawaii Convention Center Honolulu, HI
	APEC Ministerial Meeting November 11, 2011 Honolulu, HI
	18th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting November 12- 13, 2011 Honolulu, HI
	APEC Economic Leaders’ Dinner November 12, 2011 Hale Koa Hotel Honolulu, HI
	18th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting November 13, 2011 Ihilani JW Marriott Hawaii Resort Hotel and Spa Honolulu, HI