• Two months before the APEC 2008 Leaders Week, representatives from the dignitaries from the Asia-Pacific region arrive to Lima as an advance visit to supervise venues and implement security systems

Senior officials and government representatives from all 21 Asia Pacific Region Member Economies are visiting our capital since today, 23 September, in order to learn the details of the organization of the 16th APEC 2008 Leaders Week, two months before it actually takes place.

Leader representatives will meet in four groups and will supervise – together with APEC Task Force members – the facilities of the Ministry of Defense Convention Center, located in San Borja; as well as the National Museum, the Jorge Chávez International Airport and Air Group No. 8; venues that are being conditioned to host more than 8 thousand delegates – among Leaders, Senior Officials and business people from the Asia-Pacific region that are projected to come to our capital for APEC 2008 Leaders Week.  The first group of APEC representatives arrived to Lima today.  The last group will arrive on October 9.

During these days, APEC 2008 Task Force officials will inform visitors about the program for Leaders Week, and about the Leaders’ Spouses Program.  They will also have bilateral and private meetings with representatives of each Economy, were APEC 2008 Task Force officials will solve doubts and queries on different topics, such as:  delegations services, facilities for international media and security measures implemented in accordance with APEC standards and the needs from each Economy.

“APEC Economies are particularly interested on learning about the security measures adopted for the Leaders Week and how the international media will be attended at the International media Center that is being implemented at the Ministry of Defense Convention Center”, said the APEC 2008 Task Force Executive Director, Jaime Espinosa.

The Leaders Week will take place at four venues: the National Museum, the Real Felipe Fortress Convention Center, Los Delfines Hotel and the Ministry of Defense Convention Center, where the 16th APEC 2008 Leaders Week will actually take place on 22 and 23 November.  “Before the Summit, we still have two decentralized meetings to organize: APEC Youth Camp, in Puno, for which we expect the participation of 90 youth from APEC and the Finance Vice-Ministerial and Ministerial Meeting, to take place in Trujillo, from 3 – 7 November, to be attended by 250 delegates”, said the APEC Task Force Executive Director.