International Gathering of World Leaders Expected to Bring 10,000 to Hawaii; Enhance Hawaii’s Role as Meeting Place of the Pacific

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today said the selection of Hawaii to host the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting is an affirmation of hawaii’s strategic role as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region, and will help build a stronger economic foundation for Hawaii’s future. President Barack Obama, who will host the Hawaii meeting, announced Hawaii’s winning bid today during the APEC Leaders Meeting being held in Singapore.

The Hawaii meeting, scheduled for November 2011, will be the first APEC leaders meeting held in the United States since the first meeting convened on Blake Island, Washington in 1993. The Hawaii Convention Center will host the various meetings that will take place during the week.

The high-level international gathering is expected to attract over 10,000 participants from throughout the Asia-Pacific region to Hawaii, including leaders from 21 APEC economies, senior government officials, business leaders, international economists, Asia-Pacific experts and worldwide media.

‘Securing the 2011 APEC Leaders Meeting is a significant accomplishment for the State of Hawaii as we continue to expand our state’s strategic role as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region.’ said Governor Lingle. Hawaii has long been recognized around the world as a gathering place and for our unique ability to bridge diverse cultures and promote cooperation in working toward common goals such as clean energy, innovation, international trade, education and environmental protection. Hosting APEC leaders in 2011 will further enhance relations with our Asia-Pacific neighbors, while building a stronger economic foundation for Hawaii’s future.

‘We appreciate President Obama selecting Hawaii for this important meeting and recognizing the significant role Hawaii plays as America’s most diverse and strategically located state,’ Governor Lingle added.

The Hawaii bid, which was submitted in January 2009, was a collaborative effort between the Lingle-Aiona Administration, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii’s tourism and business community, the City and County of Honolulu, Hawai’s Congressional Delegation and the East-West Center. Hawaii was among several U.S. locations vying to host the 2011 APEC Leaders Meeting.

The joint effort will continue as Hawaii government leaders, private sector officials, East-West Center administrators and others community leaders shift the focus to coordinating the logistics and details of the meeting with the White House, the U.S. State Department and other agencies.

‘The cooperation and coordination between government and business in securing APEC for Hawaii has been extraordinary,’ said Hawaii State Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert. ‘We are thrilled that the President selected Hawaii as the host site for the 2011 meeting. Through the years Hawaii has emphasized its strategic geographic location as the place ‘where east meets west’ and where serious business can be conducted. The selection by the President to host APEC in Hawaii affirms this positioning and builds on the foundation that we have established over the years. We look forward to working with Hawaii businesses and the community on delivering a successful 2011 APEC for the visiting economies, the United States and all the people of Hawaii,’ added Wienert.

‘The fact that the President is inviting his counterpart leaders to his native town is taken in many cultures as showing guests the highest respect, and Hawaii is the world’s most diverse Asia-Pacific community,’ said Charles E. Morrison, president, East-West Center.

About APEC

APEC was established in 1989 in recognition of the growing inter-dependence of Asia-Pacific economies. APEC promotes economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

APEC has 21 members – referred to as “Member Economies” – which account for approximately 40.5 percent of the world’s population, approximately 54.2 of world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and about 43.7 percent of world trade.

APEC’s 21 Member Economies are Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Republic of the Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Vietnam.