APEC-OECD Cooperation on Enhancing Small Business Opportunities
APEC and the OECD furthered cooperation in efforts to help SMEs increase access to the global marketplace through a new report released at an OECD conference this week in Japan.
The OECD Global Conference on "Enhancing the Role of SMEs in Global Value Chains" featured input from joint OECD-APEC surveys and an interactive session with the APEC Secretariat Deputy Executive Director, Ambassador Juan Carlos Capuñay.
Discussion at the conference drew from APEC's experience in seeking to improve operating conditions and increase market access for SMEs.
"Small business forms the economic backbone of the APEC region," Ambassador Capuñay said at the meeting.
"Recent data indicates that SMEs account for over 98% of all enterprises and employ as much as 60% of the work force in the APEC region.
"However, SMEs still only account for about 30-35% of exports.
"Despite the number of small businesses in the region, our research has found that many SMEs feel that their full participation in the global economy is undermined by a number of internal and external factors.
These include the lack of internal resources and skill capacity and the experience to exploit foreign business opportunities such as is involved with dealing with middlemen and distribution channels."
Ambassador Capuñay said that through a range of forums, such as the recent APEC SME Ministers Meeting in Hobart, APEC has launched a range of initiatives covering a number of sectors that are helping to create opportunities for smaller businesses.
"APEC has an ongoing commitment to create an environment conducive to the development of SMEs and to help them gain access to international markets.
"This includes work to improve legal and policy frameworks, macro-economic infrastructure and tackling all other "behind-the-border" problems such as red tape.
APEC is also helping to build conditions for SME activities through diverse programs of human resources development, financing, capacity-building and technical assistance."
Ambassador Capuñay welcomed the opportunity to share details of APEC's experience with the OECD forum.
"APEC and the OECD have a strong working relationship in areas such as our interaction with SMEs. This joint APEC-OECD report and the conference that we have just attended will serve to enhance the number of opportunities that both organizations have available to use their strengths for the betterment of the region.
The conference took place in Tokyo on May 29-June 1.