[asia-apec 632] NZ: APEC Regulatory Reform Symposium

[Gatt Watchdog]

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Subject: GVT: APEC Regulatory Reform Symposium
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Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1998 04:53:37 GMT
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MEDIA RELEASE

8 September 1998

APEC Regulatory Reform Symposium

New Zealand's proposal to focus part of its preparatory work for next
year's APEC Leaders Meeting on competition and regulatory frameworks
was launched at the APEC Ministers Meeting on Small and Medium
Enterprises in Malaysia this week, Enterprise and Commerce Minister
Max Bradford said today.

Speaking from Kuala Lumpur where he was attending the APEC Ministers
SME meeting, Mr Bradford said an APEC Regulatory Reform Symposium,
organised by New Zealand, also took place in Kuatan, Malaysia, this
week.  

"It was the first such symposium for APEC.  New Zealand has led the
work in APEC over the past four years on competition policy and
deregulation as Chair of the APEC Competition Working Group," he said.

The symposium attracted business people, academics and government
officials from around the APEC region.

"The globalisation of business activity has focused increasing
attention on domestic regulation across economies," Mr Bradford said.
"The severe economic problems being experienced by many APEC economies
are making it all the more urgent that sound approaches to regulatory
reform are adopted.

"New Zealand is not immune to the current economic difficulties.  They
underscore why it is so important for us to continue to drive to bring
down the cost of government on our own businesses.

"APEC has an important role to play in promoting regulatory reform
that stimulates business activity and business growth in the region.
The symposium laid the foundation for further work on these issues
which New Zealand will seek to advance next year during our
chairmanship of APEC."

________________________________________________________________________
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