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SINGAPORE: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders should not rush to exit their economic stimulus measures, a survey of opinion leaders showed.
The survey was conducted last month by the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), with nearly 400 opinion leaders from businesses, governments, think tanks and civil societies having taken part in the poll.
The findings echoed comments made by World Bank President Robert Zoellick earlier Wednesday, when he told a conference held in Singapore that governments should not remove stimulus measures next year.
The survey findings were released on the sidelines of the APEC meetings.
Woo Yuen Pau, coordinator of the survey, said: "Simply exiting without a strategy for a post-crisis growth approach is insufficient, and we believe that this is a terrific opportunity to put in place new measures for growth that focuses, firstly, on greater inter-regional trade.
"Secondly, (it should focus) on green economy initiatives; thirdly on expanding the services sector; and fourthly to increase spending on social priorities such as health, education and social safety nets."
Mr Woo said social priorities have mostly taken a backseat during the economic downturn, especially in Asia.
- CNA/yb
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