When Malaysia hosted APEC 2020, the world was going through one of the biggest disruptions in modern history. COVID-19 reshaped economies, accelerated digital adoption, and forced countries to question how resilient and inclusive their systems truly were. Against this backdrop, Malaysia chose to lead the region with three core priorities: Improving the Narrative of Trade & Investment, Inclusive Economic Participation through Digital Economy & Technology, and Driving Innovative Sustainability.
These priorities were not chosen simply to sound impressive. They reflected the reality that economic growth alone is not enough anymore. For growth to be meaningful, it must lift communities, empower small businesses, protect the environment, and equip people for the future. These three themes represent a shift in thinking—one that places people, fairness, and long-term resilience at the centre of regional cooperation.
Let’s explore each of them in depth.
1. Improving the Narrative of Trade & Investment
Seeing Trade as More Than Numbers
For decades, global trade has been described using numbers—GDP, exports, FDI, market access. But these numbers do not tell the whole story. Trade affects people’s lives: the jobs they get, the stability of their income, the price of daily goods, and the opportunities their children will have. Malaysia recognised that APEC’s narrative needed to evolve.
Instead of focusing solely on profit-making or market expansion, the conversation needed to shift toward shared prosperity—how trade and investment can create benefits that are felt by everyone, not just large corporations or wealthy economies.
The Promise of Digital Technology
Part of this shift is acknowledging how digital technologies are transforming what trade even means. Big data, e-commerce, AI, cloud computing, blockchain—these innovations can be powerful equalizers.
- A small handicraft business in rural Sabah can suddenly sell to buyers in Japan.
- A young entrepreneur with nothing but a laptop can build an app used across the region.
- An underrepresented group can gain access to financial tools and education that were once out of reach.
Digital technologies make it possible for more people to participate in trade, not just traditional players.
But Technology Has a Dark Side Too
Of course, technology brings challenges. The digital economy demands new skills, and not everyone has access to them. Workers face job displacement, companies face cybersecurity threats, and small businesses struggle to keep up with rapid changes.
This is where government intervention becomes crucial. Policies must help workers reskill, SMEs adopt technology, and industries transition smoothly without leaving vulnerable groups behind.
APEC 2020 placed great importance on this balance—embracing opportunity, but also preparing society for the disruptions that come with it.
2. Inclusive Economic Participation through Digital Economy & Technology
Why Inclusivity Matters More Than Ever
Technology can bring people closer to economic opportunity—but only if everyone has access. The risk is that digital transformation can widen the gap between those who have resources and those who don’t. Malaysia’s leadership acknowledged this reality and placed inclusivity at the centre of APEC’s digital agenda.
This includes not just digital connectivity, but also human development, equal opportunity, and the removal of structural barriers faced by women, youth, rural communities, and older adults.
Digital Tools as Pathways to Empowerment
When used well, technology can completely reshape how individuals and businesses participate in the economy:
- MSMEs can adopt digital payments and expand cross-border.
- Women-owned businesses can access global customers without the need for physical storefronts.
- Youth can learn coding, digital marketing, or AI skills that prepare them for future industries.
- The ageing population can benefit from telemedicine, online services, and digital financial tools.
Digitalisation is not just a technological shift—it is a social equalizer if implemented thoughtfully.
Helping Society Prepare for the Future
APEC 2020 emphasised that the digital economy must include everyone, not just the tech-savvy. The region needs stronger digital infrastructure, better access to devices, improved education systems, and continuous upskilling.
In many ways, this priority is about future-proofing society—building resilience so people can adapt confidently to the industries of tomorrow.
3. Driving Innovative Sustainability
The Growing Cost of Growth
Economic growth has lifted billions out of poverty, but it has also strained our planet. Pollution, resource depletion, climate change, fragile food systems—these are no longer distant concerns. They are affecting our everyday lives in the form of rising temperatures, unpredictable weather, and increasing instability.
Malaysia’s message in APEC 2020 was simple: economic growth is meaningless if it destroys the very environment that sustains us.
Aligning Prosperity With Responsibility
If trade and investment are to achieve their full potential, they must align with sustainability goals. This means:
- Using resources more efficiently
- Reducing waste
- Protecting marine and land ecosystems
- Building cleaner energy systems
- Ensuring food security for all
Sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It is essential for long-term economic stability.
Seeing Sustainability as an Opportunity, Not a Cost
The beauty of the sustainability agenda is that it does not demand sacrifice without reward. In fact, innovative sustainability can create economic value:
- Waste-to-product industries can generate new income streams
- Energy-efficient technologies can reduce costs
- Circular economy models can extend product life cycles
- Green innovations can open entirely new markets
Malaysia encouraged APEC economies to explore these opportunities—to treat sustainability as a driver of innovation and competitiveness, not merely an environmental obligation.
APEC 2020 placed special emphasis on optimal resource management, encouraging economies to adopt new practices, new technologies, and new mindsets that redefine how they use the planet’s limited resources.
Why These Priorities Matter
What makes these priorities powerful is that they speak directly to the challenges ordinary people face today: job insecurity, rising costs, inequality, climate change, and rapid technological disruption. They also recognise that the world cannot return to the old model of growth. The future must be more human, more inclusive, and more sustainable.
Malaysia’s leadership in APEC 2020 set the tone for this new direction—one where prosperity is shared, opportunities are broadened, and the planet is protected for future generations.