Hoang Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and President of the ABAC 2006, made this remark at a press briefing held in Ha Noi on Jan. 9.

According to Dung, ABAC's members have proposed initiatives in accordance with the theme of the ABAC 2006 on "Driving Forward a Prosperous and Harmonised APEC Community".

These initiatives focus on helping Vietnamese businesses find easier access to markets and capital flows, building up a network of businesses within the APEC, and further boosting cooperation between small- and medium-sized businesses and trans-national and multinational corporations.

Joining the ABAC, Vietnamese businesses will have a chance to consult with APEC economic leaders with a view to creating a more favourable business environment. It will also help Vietnamese businesses catch up with the international economic development trend and actively integrate into the international economy.

The ABAC, which was created by the APEC economic leaders in November 1995, is comprised of up to three members of the private sector from each member economy. ABAC members are appointed by their respective governmental leaders.-Enditem