MSMEs are a crucial component of the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and a major contributor to the region’s economic growth. While APEC economies have been cooperating on MSME issues since 1995, there is still no comparable, aggregable, or averageable MSME data that provides a regional view of the sector’s achievements or challenges. Achieving data interoperability can strengthen this analysis and enhance the effectiveness of regional cooperation.

This issues paper analyses the importance of interoperable MSME data for evidence-based policymaking and reports on a survey conducted among APEC economies, examining MSME data sources, definitions, and intersections with SMEWG priorities. It provides the latest available economy-level data on MSMEs, explores opportunities for MSME data cooperation, and offers recommendations for achieving MSME data interoperability in the APEC region.