Introduction

As the host for APEC 2020, Malaysia intends to realize a balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth as well as intensify regional economic integration among its 21 member economies. Malaysia is expected to chart the strategic direction of APEC and its outcome according to the theme, three priority areas and the APEC Post 2020 Vision by the end of its chairmanship. Malaysia has set the overarching theme of her hosting year in 2020 as “Optimizing Human Potential Towards A Resilient Future of Shared Prosperity. Pivot. Prioritise. Progress.”. This is supported by the three priority areas i.e. (i) Improving the Narrative of Trade and Investment; (ii) Inclusive Economic Participation through Digital Economy and Technology; and (iii) Driving Innovative Sustainability.

The Malaysian APEC Study Centre (MASC), at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, acknowledges the impact of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic that has precipitated unprecedented health, social and economic hardships across the economies and the world at large. The consequential new normal requires agile adaptive planning by governments, industries, educationists and communities.

In conjunction with the hosting of the APEC 2020, the MASC will convene a webinar, the e-APEC Study Consortium Conference 2020 (e-ASCCC 2020), scheduled on September 23^rd, 2020 from 10.00 am to 2.35 pm (UTC/GMT+8 Malaysian Time).

 Theme of the e-ASCCC 2020

The theme that has been set for the hosting of the e-ASCCC 2020 in Malaysia is “Towards an Inclusive, Sustainable Growth and Shared Prosperity Post-Pandemic”. This theme is aligned with the overarching theme of Malaysia’s hosting year of APEC in 2020. With this central premise that takes into consideration the accelerating outbreak, the e-ASCCC 2020 envisions an in-depth discourse and perspectives towards achieving a shared prosperity in the APEC region.

With the Covid-19 pandemic changing the way trade and investment are conducted, Work From Home (WFH) ushers in a precipitous significance of digital technology that consequently affects the future of work and food security concerns. Thus, with this underlying new normal, the e-ASCCC 2020 will examine how APEC economies engage their domestic policies towards addressing the pandemic whilst ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth as well as promoting shared prosperity.

 Objectives of the e-ASCCC 2020

The e-ASCCC 2020 aims to achieve the following objectives:

To share knowledge, exchange good practices and lessons learned on the progress and challenges facing the APEC economies in achieving an inclusive, sustainable growth and shared prosperity, especially in facing the new normal post-pandemic;

• To pave the way for a multi-stakeholders collaboration, network formation and identify key impediments and innovative ideas in achieving an inclusive, sustainable growth and shared prosperity in the region; and
• To contribute to the formulation of APEC Post-2020 Vision, taking into account that the APEC region will face greater challenges of economic cooperation, open trade and investments