Established in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional forum for 21 countries in the Pacific Rim. The annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting brings together world leaders to discuss the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific region, and how to bring about great successes for member countries’ citizens by “promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth.” With member countries being among the world’s largest economies, any decisions implemented by APEC greatly affect the global trade balance, and any advancements the region makes — whether they concern futuristic urban innovations or continuous economic prosperity — will likely set a precendent for the rest of the world.
This committee is specifically designed for intermediate and experienced delegates. Position papers, although strongly recommended, are not required. However, delegates who wish to be considered for an award must submit their position papers by February 1st, 2023, at 23:59 PT. More information about position papers can be found on page 3 of the Background Guide.
Topic A: Brain Drain in APEC States (Click to show summary)
Brain drain, or human capital flight, is the emigration of skilled individuals from less developed nations to more developed nations. It often occurs as educated individuals seek better living conditions and economic opportunities abroad, which leaves their home countries with a severe lack of these skilled individuals. This lack of skilled workers can often stifle economic growth and innovation in the developing nation, while bolstering growth in developed nations, often furthering the divide between the developing and developed worlds. Yet in other cases, there can also be benefits to skilled migration abroad. These can occur in the form of remittances, or money transfers back home, or the transfer of knowledge as well. Within APEC states, there are both senders and receivers of skilled migration, making devising a policy to regulate brain drain essential for future economic prosperity.
Topic B: Promoting Smart APEC Cities (Click to show summary)
Smart cities are cities which have advanced technology integrated to collect large amounts of data; that information is then used to create more tailored approaches to management and improvement of the city. Facing the challenges of the 21st century, including climate change and overpopulation, smart cities allow urban areas to develop sustainable solutions and improve the quality of life for citizens as well. Recent technological advancements have accelerated the development of smart cities since their inception in the late 20th century. Smart cities will inevitably generate large amounts of data through their various integrated technologies, meaning that the data can be utilized for both good and ill. This presents issues of possible mass surveillance, especially by authoritarian governments, and privacy violations.
Derek Li | Director
A sophomore at St. George’s School, Derek is elated to serve as the Director of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation at VMUN 2023. Since he first entered the world of Model UN in Grade 7 as a nervous and unprepared delegate afraid to speak, Derek has been enraptured by the passionate and intriguing debate taking place within the committee room. Derek’s interest in Model UN has only grown throughout the past couple of years, fostering a fascination with global affairs and diplomacy. Outside of Model UN, Derek can be found staring at a map, trying to wrap his head around math problems, desperately attempting to memorize ancient vocabulary moments before a test, or hitting the buzzer far too late in quiz competitions. Derek looks forward to meeting all the delegates and eagerly anticipates a weekend of exciting debate and diplomacy at VMUN 2023!
Sophia Wei | Chair
Sophia is a senior at Crofton House School and is thrilled to be serving as the Chair of the UN-Habitat Committee at VMUN 2023. Ever since her first conference in grade 8, she has been captivated by the fascinating yet extremely chaotic discourse. Her passion for Model UN and international relations has only grown through these five years. She cannot believe that she is entering her last year of MUN, as the memory of sprinting up 23 flights of stairs after an exhausting midnight crisis session is still very much fresh in her mind. In her spare time, Sophia can be caught switching to “dark mode” to feel like a secret agent, exploring Greater Vancouver by bike, and lamenting the loss of Snake on her TI-83 Plus when she recently changed its batteries. Sophia hopes to make CAHSMUN 2023 an unforgettable and unique experience for all!
You can contact the Director at apec@vmun.com. Any questions regarding the committee or its debate procedures will be answered by email. Position papers must also be submitted to this address.