©iStock/Rat0007 In the Pacific Rim area, keeping trade and investment barriers in check and taking next steps to enable more people and businesses to take advantage will be an important determinant of future prosperity. "There is still considerable potential in the Asia-Pacific for growth in sectors like services trade and small business participation in supply chains," he [ APEC Secretariat Executive Director Dr. Alan Bollard ] continued. Read more: Pacific Rim has growth potential for services trade and small businesses