Interested in expanding your service business into new global markets?

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has funded the development of a new website, the STAR database, to make it easier for service providers to:

• identify the requirements to trade with and invest in other APEC economies
• exchange information with other service providers and businesses through an online forum

The STAR database will help you expand your global reach.

Economies covered

• Australia
• Chile
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Republic of Korea
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• The Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• The United States

Sectors covered

• Financial services (banking and insurance)
• Mining and energy
• Transport and logistics
• Telecommunications
• Professional services (legal, accounting, architecture and engineering)

How it works

The STAR Database is designed to

• make it easy to search for information on services market access and regulatory requirements by economy and sector
• present information in a simple, business-friendly form
• incorporate regular updates of information and verification of data
• provide links to relevant contacts, organisations and agencies and other material
• facilitate networking and the exchange information with other services providers
• provide information on news and events relevant to services developments in the APEC region

The STAR Database initiative and APEC

The STAR Database is a business-friendly, on-line tool to help services providers from APEC economies take advantage of new export opportunities. By gathering information on services market access into a single, easily accessible knowledge bank, the STAR database will increase business awareness of the regulatory requirements to trade.

The STAR Database is an Australian initiative, co-sponsored by Chile, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines and the United States.

APEC is the pre-eminent economic forum in the Asia Pacific region. Its primary purpose is to boost economic growth and prosperity in the region through trade and investment liberalisation, business facilitation and economic and technical assistance.