The meeting of the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG) is called the world's biggest stage for small and medium enterprises. In 2008, the meeting will be solemnly held in Kaohsiung's Ambassador Hotel from March 30 to April 4, as Taiwan co-hosts the meeting by the special invitation of the APEC host member Peru. During the six days of the meeting, it is estimated that high officials, scholars, and business representatives from 21 member economies and 6 observers will meet in Kaohsiung. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu and Singapore Chamber of Commerce President Deng Teng-Da and internationally known business leaders will attend and give special topic speeches on the development of small and medium enterprises (SME).

Kaohsiung will meet the world this spring, and moreover, the world will see Taiwan. Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Ruey-long Chen states that the invitation for Kaohsiung to be the co-sponsor of this meeting, besides being the manifestation of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' proactive implementation of its "Three Middles" policy, it is also hoped that through the opportunity of holding this APEC meeting in Kaohsiung, it will balance regional economic development.

Weighty Event, APEC Secretariat Breaks Precedent to Attend

There will be five APEC SMEWG meetings, and they are the " APEC SMEWG Pandemic Influenza Train the Trainer Workshop " hosted by the U.S.A. on March 30, the "APEC High Level Meeting on Driving SMEs Growth to Promote Local Development " hosted by Taiwan from March 31 to April 1, the " APEC Tax Compliance Seminar " hosted by New Zealand on the morning of April 2, and the "26th Meeting of APEC Small & Medium Enterprises Working Group" and the "APEC Conference on SME Strategy Planning" from the afternoon of April 2 to April 4.

The APEC SMEWG meeting is a key meeting that APEC places great importance on this year, and the themes of each meeting are important issues that greatly concern the host economy Peru and all member economies. Therefore, by the special invitation from Taiwan as the local host and co-organizer, the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Juan Carlos Capunay graciously agreed to come to Taiwan attend this event.

It is unconventional for the APEC Secretariat to be represented at the meeting by the Executive Director, so this shoes the importance that APEC places on the issue of SMEs and on this meeting to be held in Kaohsiung. It also shows its acceptance and praise of Taiwan's experience in promoting the development of SMEs.


Business Leaders and Cabinet-Level Officials Gather on Asia Pacific's Super Economic Stage

At the "APEC High Level Meeting on Driving SMEs Growth to Promote Local Development" hosted by Taiwan, in addition to Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Ruey-long presenting to the world the excellent results of Taiwan's SMEs, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu and Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat Ambassador Juan Carlos Capunay will give the opening addresses and Peru's Deputy Minister of Industry Mr. Carlos Ferraro and Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Chiu Tai-San will give opening speeches on "Local Economic Development Policy" and "Kaohsiung¡XThe Investor's Paradise," respectively. In addition, the speakers at the high level meeting cover different traditional and modern industries. In terms of the modern, Singapore Chamber of Commerce President Deng Teng-Da, invited to attend and making a special trip to Taiwan, will give an experience exchange about the strategies, tools, and methods used when enhancing local development. In terms of the traditional, Japan's Traditional Handicraft Industry Association Chairman Mr. Takao Watanabe will also come to Taiwan to share Japan's experience in expanding local markets for traditional handicrafts. Small and Medium Enterprise Administration Director Lai Shan-Gui, Deputy Director Ye Yun-Long, Taiwan Institute of Economic Research President Hong De-Sheng, First Bank President Zhang Zhao-Shun, and Small Business Integrated Assistance Center General Manager Yang Yi-Cheng will also serve as chairs for different issues to share Taiwan's experiences with the guests.

The "26th Meeting of APEC Small & Medium Enterprises Working Group" is the most important event of these meetings, and its guests are all high level officials in charge of SME development from APEC member economies. The other meetings are all extensions of issues from this meeting. As the representative of the local host, Small and Medium Enterprise Administration Director Lai Sun-Quae will give the opening address, and Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat Ambassador Juan Carlos Capunay¡Xinvited to attend by the meeting chair, Peru's Deputy Minister of Industry Mr. Carlos Ferraro¡Xwill give a welcoming address to the attending member economies.

The priorities of this meeting are to prepare for this year's August 29¡V30 APEC SME Ministerial Meeting in Peru, to make preliminary discussions and research for the issues of the ministerial meeting, and to report the promotion status of the related plans proposed by member economies. In addition to these matters, this meeting will especially focus on challenges to business growth and solutions in the SME development process. More importantly, this meeting will plan the main agenda direction and priorities for APEC SME meetings for the next four years, and will set the APEC SME strategy plan. Taiwan is fortunate to be able to do the main drafting work for this plan, which is expected to be submitted to this year's APEC Leaders' Meeting.

Splendid Local Cultural Industry Expo, Successful Web Platform and Real Exhibits

APEC's concern and assistance for the promotion of local cultural industries by member economies has long been established. These working group meetings will be rooted in the APEC Local Cultural Industry Virtual Exposition (ALCIVE) held in 2006 and 2007 in Taiwan, and after adding the function of business opportunity matching, it will become the OVOP (One Village, One Product) web platform. This will be the first time this international and permanent local cultural industries commercial website is shown to the world.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of gathering the world in Kaohsiung, the APEC SMEWG meetings will also hold the "Asia Pacific OTOP Product Appreciation Fair" outside of the Ambassador Hotel, which will include excellent Taiwanese local cultural industries such as Nantou's Yuchi black tea, Yingge's ceramics, and Pingdong's Sandimen Aborigine handicrafts, to be displayed in front of the Ambassador Hotel during the six days of the meetings. The organizing economy Peru will also display products of its special local cultural industries by showing films and playing music at the meetings, while also displaying jewelry, textiles, and handicrafts to bring a South American atmosphere to the guests from all countries.


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Press Contact:
Yang Chia-Hsien, Small and Medium Enterprise Administration
TEL: 02-23662255
Email: chyang@moeasmea.gov.tw

Chien Szu-Min, Taiwan Institute of Economic Research
TEL: 02-25865000 ext. 629
Email: angel@tier.org.tw

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