KUALA LUMPUR: The hosting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2020 by Malaysia will help spur the nation's economy and create more job opportunities.
This will help the country cushion the impact of slow growth, triggered by weakness in global economy, said APEC 2020 National Secretariat logistics director Suraya Kulop Abdul Rahman.
"Some 16,000 delegates from the Asia Pacific region will be coming down to Malaysia for APEC 2020. I'm very sure with this large gathering of international crowd, we can promote our economy and indirectly help spur its growth.
"Hosting APEC 2020 also requires a lot of manpower. I've spoken to some industries taking part in the event on the need for additional manpower or assistance for their logistics.
"This would help to create more job opportunities for the locals.
"Activities like Apec Arts Festival, for example, would generate excitement for the delegates coming for the summit," she said at the APEC 2020 media briefing here today.
Comprising 21 economies including Malaysia, the APEC summit is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration.
Carrying the theme 'Shared Prosperity', APEC 2020 will be launched by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Nov 26 at the APEC Garden, Cyberview Resort and Spa in Cyberjaya.
The programme will be held in several states from Dec 2019 until Nov 2020.
Meanwhile, MITI deputy secretary-general Datuk Seri Norazman Ayob in his speech said the theme revolves around the concept of 'shared prosperity', which the Prime Minister had introduced in his keynote speech during the APEC CEO Summit in Papua New Guinea in 2018.
"The same concept has now been escalated and articulated into our national policy which was launched in May this year.
"It is pertinent that the organisation of APEC 2020 would involve as many stakeholders and beneficiaries. We want it to be the best platform to showcase the best that Malaysia can offer in terms of hospitality, economy and diverse culture," he added.
Malaysia last hosted the APEC summit in 1998.