PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (Nov 16): Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria’s appointment as Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat will help Malaysia in its preparation to host the APEC Leaders' Summit in 2020.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking said Rebecca’s appointment was also crucial in ensuring the progress of APEC's goals under the Bogor Declaration 2020.

"The 2018 Bogor Goals progress report has been completed and the final review will be undertaken in 2020.

“Tan Sri Rebecca will report on the achievement, as well as the post-2020 targets," he told the Malaysian media here today.

Rebecca, who was former secretary-general of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, will begin her three-year term on Jan 1, 2019 after the conclusion of two consecutive terms held by Dr Alan Bollard of New Zealand.

During her tenure, Rebecca, the first women to helm the secretariat, will serve a membership that accounts for half of global trade and 60 per cent of world’s GDP, as well as the incoming hosts of Chile, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Darell who is here to attend APEC Trade Ministers’ Meeting, said the 21-member grouping and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) must undertake reforms to boost the multilateral trading blocs.

"Structural economic and regulatory reform is another area of importance to APEC," he said.

He pointed out that APEC's work under the Renewed APEC Agenda for Structural Reform has benefitted Malaysia in understanding the importance of addressing structural bottlenecks that impede competitiveness and economic growth.