Op-ed: Disaster preparedness secures APEC's growth

A statement released by Ambassador Muhamad Noor, the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat in Singapore, echoes the need for emergency preparedness to ensure the economic vitality of the Asia-Pacific region.
In his op-ed, he reminds APEC Members that they were specifically instructed to strengthen disaster risk reduction approaches and develop mechanisms to maximize resilience in the region. "The first line of defense of disaster management lies in preparedness and training," he says.