A Message from Noel Gould, President, Virtual Trade Mission Foundation:

Welcome to the Voices of the Future, Singapore 2009!

And congratulations for being selected to represent your economy at a truly transcendent time for APEC and the world.

For you and for APEC, this is the right time to be in Singapore.

Like most of the Voices delegates joining you this week, APEC was born at the close of the Cold War.

Now, just 20 years later, the world will watch with great hopes as APEC’s leaders work to enrich the region’s development, prosperity and security in ways that will reach beyond the Pacific and renew all nations.

And it seems that it is Singapore’s destiny to host APEC at this critical moment that calls for new strategies for strength and sustainability after the crest of a crisis.

In its young history, Singapore had to surmount serious challenges to become a leader in global commerce and connectivity.  It is now a significant contributor to the APEC process for how to build shared success by building smarter systems for multilateral trade and investment.

So, now it is up to you and your new friends and colleagues in the combined delegations to draw on the very best from APEC and Singapore as you become the Voices of the Future.

All of us who have come before you ask that you join us in deep and continuing thanks for the outstanding leadership of Singapore’s Voices Organizing Committee in bringing forward the most representative and dynamic program in our history.

Noel Gould, Esq.

Cofounder and President

Voices of the Future for APEC