About APEC

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies. Begun as an informal dialogue group, APEC has since become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic cooperation. Its goal is to advance Asia-Pacific economic growth and sense of community. APEC is today comprised of 21 member countries. Peru, Russia, and Vietnam became the latest members of the APEC community in 1998. New Zealand is the APEC Chair for 1999.

About John Stern Wolf

Amb. Wolf is a native of Philadelphia, graduated from Dartmouth College (B.A. 1970), and was a Mid-Career Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University (1978-79). He started his career as a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State in 1970 and has served in Australia, Vietnam, Greece, and Pakistan, as well as in Washington. Amb. Wolf was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs from 1989 to 1992. He served as Ambassador to Malaysia from 1992 to 1995. He was designated as APEC Coordinator in January, 1996, and confirmed as Ambassador to APEC in February, 1997.

Amb. Wolf won the President’s Meritorious Service Award in 1992, and in 1993 the Department of State’s Charles E. Cobb, Jr. Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development. In 1996, he received the annual APCAC Award from the Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce.

Sponsoring Organizations

Freeport MacMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Hibernia National Bank

Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère and Denègre

Locke Liddell & Sapp, LLP

Louisiana Department of Economic Development

M.G. Maher & Co., Inc.

McDermott International, Inc.

Port of New Orleans

Whitney National Bank

World Trade Center of New Orleans

In Cooperation With