NORTHBROOK, Ill., Nov. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a global safety science leader, will be well represented overseas when some of its executives head east to participate in the APEC CEO Summit in China.
APEC's CEO Summit will be held Nov. 9-10 in Beijing and is touted as the premier business event of the Asia-Pacific region. The CEO Summit is part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration of APEC this year and will be followed by the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting for the countries' political leaders, also in Beijing.
The summit will draw hundreds of the APEC member economies' top business leaders together for unique opportunities to network with each other and with political leaders of the member economies. Business representatives will participate in private dinners and bilateral side meetings with government officials from across the region.
From UL, CEO and President Keith Williams will attend the summit, joined by Asia-Pacific President Jason Fischer, Lean Business Services General Manager Scot Webster, Life & Health Sciences President Hiroshi Yamaki, Chief Commercial Officer Weifang Zhou and Governmental Affairs Vice President Ann Weeks.
The theme for the summit will be "Shaping the Future through Asia Pacific Partnership." The summit aims to bring members together to discuss establishing long-lasting and beneficial trade relationships for the future of regional relations.
The summit is a good way for UL to talk to other corporate leaders about an increasingly prevalent business concern – supply chain disruptions.
The growing globalization of supply chains creates both opportunities and risks for companies operating in APEC economies. Most companies believe they know about the products and product components in their own company's supply chain, but new insights often are proving these assumptions wrong. Supply-chain disruptions caused by nature, political unrest, infrastructure breakdowns, epidemics, economic uncertainty, technical barriers to trade or other reasons are associated with medium- to long-term disruptions of products' value. Increasingly shorter product life cycles and proliferating regulations also push the need for companies to seek a more thorough knowledge of their supply chain.
UL is in an advantaged position to assist other businesses with their supply-chain concerns. With a growing presence in 16 of APEC's 21 member economies, UL's own testing and verification solutions and close work with businesses in the APEC region can provide us with unique insight into global supply chains.
APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, was created in 1989 as an intergovernmental group of "member economies," that border the Pacific Ocean. APEC exists to promote mutual economic growth, cooperation and trade through non-binding commitments, and open regular dialogue. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis. APEC's 21 member economies together comprise about 40 percent of the world's population, 55 percent of world GDP and 44 percent of world trade.
APEC also works to create an environment for the safe and efficient movement of goods, services and people across borders in the region through policy alignment and economic and technical cooperation.
UL is one of 27 Platinum Sponsors of the summit, the highest level of support. UL has expanded its presence in APEC economies in recent years and participation in the summit is one of the many ways the company demonstrates its commitment to being a part of the economic growth in the region. This is the sixth year UL has participated in the APEC CEO Summit.
About UL
UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for 120 years. Its more than 10,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain. For more information about our certification, testing, inspection, advisory and education services, visit http://www.UL.com.
CONTACT: Michelle Press
PR Manager, UL
847-664-1966
[email protected]
SOURCE UL
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