First fixed-term executive director of Secretariat

Leaders said they will appoint a first fixed-term executive director of the group's Secretariat to strengthen its capacity to meet growing demands of member economies and other key stakeholders.

The position of the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat was previously taken by people from the rotating Chair member and was changed on a yearly basis.

Malaysia's Muhamad Noor Yacob, 57, is expected serve as the first fixed-term executive director, the Secretariat said Sunday. His term starts on Jan. 1, 2010 and will last for three years.

The U.S.-trained Yacob previously served as Malaysia's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO). He was elected Chairman of the General Council of the WTO on 7 February 2007.

"A revitalized APEC is crucial to meet the challenges of sustaining recovery and to deal with the region's 21st century economic challenges," said the APEC leaders' declaration. "The appointment of the Secretariat's first Executive Director for a fixed term is an important first step to strengthen the capacity of the APEC Secretariat to meet the growing demands of member economies and other key stakeholders."

"We direct our officials to accelerate efforts to develop more responsive and effective mechanisms to ensure that the APEC remains the premier forum for regional economic cooperation," the declaration said.

APEC leaders also said in the declaration that they expected to achieve an APEC-wide improvement of doing business -- mainly to cut the cost of time and expenses -- by 25 percent by 2015, and they will put in place a "comprehensive long-term growth strategy" next year to support more balanced growth within and across economies.