High and volatile energy prices make energy security a serious concern for all countries, both energy producing and importing countries. While efforts to curb the energy demand growth rate are being made, energy demand of the region will continue to grow as a number of countries in the region are rapidly industrializing and there is a large unmet demand due to low levels of access to energy services.

The Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2008 will focus on the theme “Energy Security: Opportunities through Regional Cooperation and Public-Private Partnership.” It will encourage public-private partnership in promoting investment in energy infrastructure development and regional energy cooperation in Asia and the Pacific. The APBF 2008 will provide the regional business community, particularly from the energy sector, with a unique opportunity to meet senior policy makers, executives from the energy industries, energy sector experts and senior representatives from international aid and development agencies from the Asia-Pacific region.

The discussions at the Forum are expected to recommend policy options at both regional and national levels to promote trans-boundary energy cooperation and to enhance capacity to create public-private partnerships in energy infrastructure development.

The background and other related documents can be found in Documents section.