The Asia–Pacific ( APAC ) is the region of the world adjoining the western Pacific Ocean . The region's precise boundaries vary depending on context, but countries and territories in Australasia , East Asia , and Southeast Asia are often included. In a wider context, Central Asia , North Asia , the Pacific Islands , South Asia , West Asia (including the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant ), and even Pacific-adjoining countries in the Americas can be included. For example, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) includes five economies ( Canada , Chile , Mexico , Peru , and the United States ) in the New World (more standardly referred to as the Western Hemisphere ). The term has become popular since the late 1980s in commerce, finance, and politics. Despite the heterogeneity of the regions' economies, most individual nations within the zone are emerging markets experiencing significant growth. Sometimes, the notion of "Asia–Pacific excluding Japan" (APEJ) is considered useful.
5-473: The Inter-Pacific Bar Association or IPBA is an international association of business and commercial lawyers, founded in 1991. Its members consist of residents of the Asia-Pacific region, or lawyers with a strong interest in that region. It brings together lawyers from different backgrounds and legal systems and fosters communication and builds stronger ties between these lawyers and thus their countries. It
10-514: A wider context, the following countries and territories can also be included in the Asia–Pacific region: The World Bank's April 2024 update indicates that the growth rate for the Asia-Pacific region, excluding China, is expected to slightly increase to 4.6% in 2024, up from 4.4% in 2023. This underscores a diverse economic resilience against global pressures. Meanwhile, global trade growth, which
15-530: The continued development of the legal profession in the region. The IPBA is open to practicing attorneys anywhere in the world interested in the Asia-Pacific region. Asia-Pacific In accordance with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Asia–Pacific region includes a total of 51 countries and seven territories grouped into five subregions : In
20-617: Was founded in April 1991 at an initial conference in Tokyo attended by 500 lawyers. The association has since grown to over 1,200 members from 65 countries and jurisdictions, such as Australia, China, Singapore, India, the United States and Japan. Through its IPBA Scholars program the Association brings young lawyers and lawyers from developing countries to its annual conferences and thus helps to ensure
25-531: Was minimal at 0.2% in 2023, is projected to improve to 2.3% in 2024, crucial for the region's export-oriented economies. However, private investment remains below pre-pandemic levels due to higher debt levels and rising interest rates, signaling a cautious investment climate. The region faces significant challenges from both external factors, such as high core inflation and modest global trade recovery, and domestic issues like increased debt and political uncertainties, potentially hindering economic growth. Additionally,
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