The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ("APEC") was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies. Begun as an informal dialogue group, APEC has since become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic cooperation. Its goal is to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community. There are 21 members of APEC:

The APEC Business Travel Card ("ABTC") was developed in response to the need of business people to gain streamlined entry to the economies of the Asia-Pacific region. The card gives accredited business people the equivalent of visa-free travel to participating APEC economies through a simple pre-clearance system saving cardholders the time and effort involved in applying for individual entry authorities. The card not only simplifies pre-travel arrangements but also fast-tracks the entry and exit of cardholders through special APEC lanes at major airports. There are nine APEC economies currently participating in the ABTC scheme: