Phuket prepares for Apec meeting

KARON: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a seminar involving about 100 officials and businesspeople this morning at Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort, to prepare for the 3rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Senior Officials Meeting, to be held in Phuket next year. Apinan Pavanarit, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Phuket will host the conference from August 14 to 23. Senior government officials from 21 Apec member economies are expected to attend. “We wanted to consult with the provincial officers to prepare for this important meeting that will take place in Phuket next year, and to make sure local people understand the importance of this meeting,” K. Apinan said. In Thailand, a number of peripheral Apec meetings will take place in three provinces: Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen and Phuket. However, the main summits – the 11th Apec Leaders’ Meeting and the 15th Apec Ministerial Meeting – will take place in Bangkok from October 17 to 21, 2003. Phuket government officials had hoped Phuket would be chosen for the Apec Leaders’ Meeting, but it lost its bid to Bangkok due to a shortage of facilities – such as transportation, meeting halls and accommodation – to handle the high-level event. Membership of Apec comprises countries from around the Pacific rim, including the USA, Russia and China.