The 52nd meeting of the Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was held days earlier (23 to 24 September) in a virtual format. The Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) attended the meeting on behalf of Macao, China as a guest economy.
This meeting focused on discussing enterprise innovation and development of start-ups, access of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to international markets and global value chains, SME digitalization, access to finance, and government to business interaction, among others. Chan Hoi Si, the DSEDT’s Head of Industry and Commerce Support Division, gave a presentation on the E-Consumption Scheme launched by the Macao SAR Government to implement the efforts to ensure employment, boost the economy and enhance livelihood in 2021. She also shared the effectiveness and experience of the scheme in promoting SME digitalization.
The APEC SMEWG organizes meetings every year to allow members share each other’s experiences and information, so as to enhance the understanding and interchange among Asia-Pacific economies. With a theme of “Join, Work, Grow, Together”, this year’s APEC meetings aim to unite members to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerate post-pandemic economic recovery.
Since 2001, the Macao SAR has been participating in the meetings of several working groups of APEC as a guest economy. The DSEDT has long been supporting the work of the organization and actively attending relevant meetings and activities. Cooperation with APEC and its members is deepened, and the latest development of issues relevant to the region is learned about through the platforms stated above. This brings about a positive effect on promoting the Macao SAR’s interchange with other regions and enhancing its participation in regional governance.
