SAN DIEGO May 1992

In 1992 in San Diego, more than 400 delegates attended the inaugural Pacific Forum event which was conducted in an environment very much impacted by the formative stages of the proposed APEC initiative. It also coincided with the final stages of The America's Cup for yachting. The ten key issues discussed at this Forum included:

  • A new age of geo-economics driving geo-politics
  • The growing realities of "managed trade"
  • The formal advent of "Three Circles"
  • Managing these three "Poles of Reciprocity"
  • The emerging options of "open or closed" regionalism
  • Gaining leverage in this emerging world of powerful regional groupings
  • An absence of conspicuous regional leadership in Asia
  • Restructuring the post-Cold War institutions
  • The next catalyst
  • A Pacific Century borne upon corporate initiatives

"(This Conference) heightens the awareness of the operating environment of business politics or that an academic has to deal with and brings out the perspectives. I have been approached by many delegates and officials wanting to know about US Government policy on various issues…our military presence in the region…so this is part of the networking that can go on…when you have people like Lee Kuan Yew talking on issues, people listen."
Richard Solomon
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia & Pacific Affairs, USA (1992 Pacific Rim Forum)

"As a sponsor here and one of the ASEAN business people, one of the interesting things for us was the standard and quality of the speakers who came over. I think for us that was one of the most beneficial factors in attending the conference. There is an opportunity in one place for people to meet and talk about current business affairs and things relating to what's happening in the region. I think that was a really worthwhile experience."
Tunku Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ahmad Yahaya
Group Chief Executive Officer, Sime Darby Group (1992 Pacific Rim Forum)

"I appreciated the opportunity to listen to experts on Asia who have analyzed the facts and understand the cultures. The quality of the Asian leaders who spoke was particularly high and also the range of views and the insights given helped to identify for me the possible strategic questions facing Asia and our own company."
Alan Reid
Senior Vice President, Basell International, Belgium

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