SINGAPORE will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings this year, on the 20th anniversary of the 21-member grouping and against the backdrop of a sombre economic outlook.
The event will kick off on Friday, with the first round of senior officials' meetings to be held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel in Havelock Road.
About 1,000 Apec senior officials and delegates are expected to attend the meetings which end on Feb 26, Apec said in a statement on Thursday.
The second round of senior officials' meetings will take place at the Shangri-La Hotel from July 15 to July 19. This will be followed by two ministerial meetings, in July and October, at the same venue.
Each of these meetings is anticipated to bring about 500 foreign delegates to Singapore, said Apec.
The Apec meetings will culminate in the Apec Economic Leaders' Meeting, which is to be held in Singapore for the first time.
This will take place at the Istana on Nov 14 and 15.
