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Shanghai APEC SME Ministerial Meeting Highly Praised
The APEC Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Ministerial Meeting and Business Forum, which concluded Thursday in Shanghai has received high appraisal from the participants, who agreed that it will help get rid of the barriers hindering the development of these enterprises.
The discussions about "advancing technological innovation," " facilitating financing" and "improving the environment for SME development" at the meeting turned out to be very fruitful, said Walt Lastewka, head of the Canadian delegation.
The exchanges of views in these areas will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are facing a globalized economy heavily dependent on technology and information, he said.
Zhang Zhigang, head of the Chinese delegation, said both the meeting and business forum provide a good opportunity for the general public to become more aware of the situation of SMEs and their role in economic development, which Zhang said he believed will help improve the environment for SME development.
The face-to-face dialogue between government officials and SME executives during the meeting was of great significance as it will help government officials have a better understanding of SMEs. That means the officials will think more about the development of SMEs when making industrial policies, he said.
John Wright, associate minister for economic development of New Zealand, described the business forum as a success. He said the main topics were discussed thoroughly, especially in the field of facilitating SME financing.
Representatives from Chinese SMEs in Shanghai, Guizhou, Liaoning and other areas said they had learned much from their counterparts in other APEC members. They said they are encouraged by the suggestion that governments of all APEC economies should offer "maximum help" to SMEs and exercise "minimum intervention" in their operations.
Arun Agrawal, deputy secretary-general of the World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises, said the meeting greatly enhanced the partnership between APEC SMEs. Governments should help SMEs overcome difficulties, he said.
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