The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) has congratulated outgoing Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard on his appointment as executive director of APEC.

“This is another valuable opportunity for New Zealand to show leadership for freer trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region” said NZIBF chairman Sir Graeme Harrison.

“Alan Bollard has a range of experiences both as an economist and as a policy maker, which qualify him for this task. We wish him well for this challenging new appointment”.

Speaking from the APEC Summit in Vladivostok, Tony Nowell, New Zealand member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), said Dr Bollard was taking up his role at a significant time.

“APEC has a broad vision to establish the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP).  Progress to this end is being made in the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.  As well as strengthening APEC’s advocacy for freer trade and investment, Alan Bollard will have a key role to play in ensuring that regional trade initiatives proceed in a way which is mutually re-enforcing, meet business needs and contribute ultimately to the FTAAP goal.”

Tony Nowell said that ABAC looked forward to working with Dr Bollard in his new role.