APEC Photo Contest 2014

Deadline: 19 September 2014

WHAT IS THE APEC PHOTO CONTEST 2014 ALL ABOUT?

The dynamic economies of the Asia-Pacific are made up of the livelihoods of people across the region. Through promoting trade and investment, APEC seeks to enhance the well-being and prosperity of all members of the Asia-Pacific. The APEC Photo Contest 2014 invites you to capture, through a photograph, how trade is reflected in your life and in the daily lives of people around the region.

WHAT IS THE ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC)?

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC) goal is to create sustainable economic growth and prosperity by championing free and open trade, connecting us more efficiently through land, air, sea and digital linkages, enhancing inclusive growth for all members of our communities, and promoting green growth and sustainability. APEC’s work helps improve livelihoods through better employment opportunities; access to cleaner, green technologies; enhanced infrastructure to enable goods to move easily throughout the region; and safer and more secure products such as food and medicine. Watch video for more information about APEC.

THE 2014 APEC PRIORITIES:

Each year, APEC and its host economy selects a specific set of priorities to focus on. This year, China has selected the theme “Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership” highlighting the region’s long-standing cooperation and partnership to promote economic sustainability and to ensure the Asia-Pacific region is a global growth engine.

We invite you to share your photographic interpretations of APEC China’s 2014 priorities listed below:

Advancing Regional Economic Integration:

Recognizing regional economic integration as the core mission of APEC, member economies are continuing to work toward the goal of free trade by 2020 for all economies in the region.

Achieving free trade and regional economic integration includes bringing economies closer together by integrating our infrastructure linkages and lowering trade barriers so goods, services and people can move freely within the Asia-Pacific. It is about making it easier for goods to cross borders through faster, electronic customs procedures. It is also about providing frequent business travellers fast-track pre-visa clearance so they can travel throughout the Asia-Pacific quickly and easily with the APEC Business Travel Card. APEC is also streamlining regulations and standards and reducing bureaucratic red tape so that it’s easier to export a product to many different economies.

Promoting Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth:

In response to the current global challenges such as growing environmental pressures and increasing wealth gaps, APEC Economies are tackling new and structural issues to create sustainable long-term economic growth.

As part of this priority, APEC is focusing on promoting innovation and the internet economy as well as ocean sustainability and sustainable consumption of energy through APEC green towns. APEC is also addressing issues associated with rapid urbanization in the region and food security and safety through better testing and inspection. In order to promote inclusive growth, APEC is helping rural villages adopt and develop appropriate technologies for sustainable development. To enhance innovation and research in the region, the 2014 APEC ASPIRE Prize will award an outstanding researcher of intelligent transportation systems.

Strengthening Comprehensive Connectivity and Infrastructure Development:

In its effort to create a more integrated regional economy, APEC is tackling connectivity and infrastructure development issues and infrastructure expansion as a new source of growth. The region currently requires more than USD 8 trillion in infrastructure investment to meet its growing infrastructure needs. APEC is working to connect the region through better air, land, sea and digital linkages and to reduce the bottlenecks that hamper moving goods and people freely throughout the region. In addition, APEC is working toward enhancing the connections between the institutions and people in our region. This includes encouraging university exchanges and study abroad for students to other APEC economies as well as facilitating tourists to travel more freely throughout the region.

For more information on APEC’s many initiatives, see recent APEC Bulletin newsletter articles and news releases.

READY FOR THE CHALLENGE?

Submissions for the APEC Photo Contest 2014 opens 6 August 2014. You can provide up to three of your best photos stating in each one of them, your interpretation of any one of the three APEC priorities for 2014 described above. These priorities might seem technical at first glance, but the challenge lies in capturing their very real essence as well as their presence and impact in your daily life.

The Judging Panel will select the Grand Prize Winner, who will receive an S$2,000 dollars prize. Second and third prize winners will receive S$1,500 and S$1,000 dollars prizes respectively. Photo submissions closes 19 September 2014. All winners will have the opportunity for his or her photo to be showcased in many APEC publications, both print and online.

Our Judging Panel is made up of globally renowned photojournalists in the region, including Eric Baradat of AFP, Palani Mohan, David ST Loh of Reuters Singapore, Huang Wen of Xinhua News Agency, China’s APEC Senior Official Tan Jian and APEC’s Executive Director Dr Allan Bollard.

YOU DECIDE:

On 3 October 2014, you can view, vote and share the top 10 photos on the APEC Facebook and Sina Weibo pages through 24 October 2014. Winners will be announced during the APEC Concluding Seniors Officials Meeting in Beijing, China on 5-6 November 2014.