USA: For the first time since 2011, representatives from the 21 economies that make up the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum gathered in Honolulu earlier this month.

Since then-U.S. President Barack Obama hosted world leaders for the 19th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in the capital of the Hawaiian state, a lot has changed in the world.

The global economy is now more at risk of entering a recession as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine, mounting debt problems, and ongoing supply chain disruptions.

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The destructive effects of climate change are getting worse. The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing an increase in corruption worries, which has limited access to opportunities.

The necessity of the Asia-Pacific economies cooperating to address these issues, however, has not changed. 38% of the world's population and 47% of the world's trade are accounted for by APEC member economies.

They are developing a shared vision for a region that is more open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful.

The theme of "Creating a resilient and sustainable future for all" will serve as a catalyst for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond to be mobilised during the U.S.'s hosting of APEC in 2023.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden gave a preview of the key priorities that will steer the 2023 agenda at this month's meeting in Honolulu, describing them as being "interconnected, innovative, and inclusive."

For the Asia-Pacific to recover economically from the pandemic in a fair and equitable manner and to ensure its long-term prosperity and resilience, the region must become more interconnected.

Building more resilient supply chains through infrastructure, enhancing data sharing and cross-border payments, promoting sustainability, and assisting small businesses to thrive in the global economy are of utmost importance. 

The promotion of services trade and digital trade will be increased, as well as efforts to restart cross-border travel, bolster health systems, and ultimately move toward freer trade.

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The APEC agenda for 2023 will place a strong emphasis on encouraging innovation. This will involve boosting food security, strengthening disaster preparedness, and improving climate mitigation and resilience. 

Additionally, it will entail fostering collaboration in digital trade, privacy, and cybersecurity in order to maximise the economic advantages of the digital economy.

APEC leaders will also work to promote inclusive and sustainable growth for all region's workers. Greater gender equity, a stronger voice for small businesses and workers, and more focus on the voices of underserved and underrepresented communities are all necessary for a resilient Asia-Pacific.

The business community must communicate its opinions to regional political leaders. We cannot solely rely on them to solve all of our problems. The business sector should contribute to the solution, and we have the resources, leadership, and ideas to do so.

My responsibility as chair of the 2023 APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is to offer suggestions from the viewpoint of the business community in order to realise the ambitious agenda set forth by the forum for the year.

In preparation for the leaders' meeting, which will take place in San Francisco in November, ABAC working groups and task forces will create specific recommendations for ministerial officials and leaders.

To get global trade back on track, more work needs to be done given that supply chains are still fragmented as a result of the pandemic. For this reason, we've charged a working group on economic integration with researching and making recommendations on how to strengthen trade ties in the area, boost supply chain resilience, and encourage trade that is sustainable. 

Experience has taught us that investing in and fostering business innovation are essential components for overcoming obstacles in the low-carbon transition. 

Our working group on sustainable growth will concentrate on concrete suggestions for encouraging a successful, collective response to climate change and realising the transition to a low-carbon economy.

I have witnessed the transformative power that increased interconnectedness and technology can bring as a banker who works closely with small and midsize businesses connecting the Asia-Pacific region.

For this reason, our working group on digital and innovation will prioritise enabling collaboration in the areas of cybersecurity, digital identification, and cross-border data flows in order to maximise the advantages of digital growth. 

It is no accident that San Francisco will host the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the APEC CEO Summit in 2023; it is the ideal setting for the business community, particularly the world's leading innovators in technology, to present timely and creative solutions.

Our finance and inclusion task forces will contribute significantly to each of these themes, covering everything from funding a fair and affordable transition to fostering economic empowerment for women in the region.

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Our team will meet with stakeholders in New Zealand, Brunei, the Philippines, and finally San Francisco in the upcoming months to exchange perspectives and ultimately lay out a list of specific recommendations for leaders.

Each task force and working group is headed by an experienced executive with practical knowledge of its subject. Most importantly, each of them is committed to the urgent task of forging a more cohesive and powerful Asia-Pacific.

Which is why I have no doubt that we will arrive in San Francisco the following year with a workable set of suggestions for leaders tackling the most difficult problems of our time.

We faced different challenges in 2011 when President Obama hosted APEC leaders in Honolulu, but we are still working toward the same goal of creating a more prosperous and inclusive world. In 2023 and the years to come, we will advance that reality one step further on the way to San Francisco.