APEC is also a forum which can bring benefit to people`s welfareSurabaya, East Java, April 20 (ANTARA News) - The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) supports small and medium enterprises and women entrepreneurs to get more access to capital and global markets, Chairman of APEC`s Trade-Related Ministerial meeting Gita Wirjawan said here on Saturday.
"APEC is also a forum which can bring benefit to people`s welfare. We need to increase our support to small and medium enterprises, women entrepreneurs and farmers by giving them more access to technology, capital, market and a more enhanced logistic system," said the Indonesian trade minister.
In the APEC region, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for around 90 percent of all businesses and employ as much as 60 percent of the work force.
At present, however, they generate only around 30 percent of exports. APEC economies since 1994 has been encouraging the development of SMEs in the region towards the organization`s goal of full trade and investment liberalization and facilitation by 2020.
A meeting of ministers responsible for SMEs has been held annually since 1994. In August 2012, the ministers, at their 19th Meeting in Saint Petersburg, Russia endorsed a Strategic Plan for 2013-2016 which will provide a road map to address critical issues and concerns pertaining to the growth of SMEs and micro enterprises (MEs) in the APEC region.
Among priority areas for action are building management capability, entrepreneurship and innovation, financing and business environment, market access and internationalization.
During APEC meetings in 2013, Indonesia as chairman has stated it will bring the issue of infrastructure development to support connectivity in the region.
"Connectivity among economies in Asia Pacific will ease the flow of goods and services, accelerate economic growth and improve people`s welfare in the region," Chairman of APEC Senior officials` Meeting Yuri Thamrin said recently.
Other issues to be discussed in APEC meetings 2013 are emergency response, travel facilitation initiative, maritime-related issues for economic purposes, education cooperation among APEC economies and food security.
Established in 1989, APEC is a Pacific-rim economic cooperation forum that includes 21 member economies. They are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.
Reporter: Amie Fenia Arimbi
Editor: Fitri Supratiwi
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