Agencies must assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to explore overseas markets, Premier Mao Chi-kuo stated at today's Cabinet meeting.
The premier made this statement after a briefing by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on the content and results of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting.
Regarding the Boracay Action Agenda to globalize MSMEs (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises), which was adopted at this APEC MRT Meeting, Mao directed relevant ministries and agencies to proactively study and assess relevant events and workshops in which the ROC can take the initiative or participate.
The premier also instructed the MOEA to convene relevant agencies to formulate contributions to the Collective Strategic Study on Issues Related to the Realization of the FTAAP (Free Trade Areas of the Asia-Pacific). The ROC must make concrete contributions in order to realize the commitments made by the nation's representatives at the 2014 APEC annual meetings, he emphasized. As for domestic legislation on APEC Environmental Goods and Services, the premier enjoined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and MOEA to proactively collaborate and see it through.
This year's APEC MRT Meeting was convened at Boracay Island, Philippines, May 23-24, the MOEA stated. The conference theme, "Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World," covered important issues including supporting a multilateral system, promoting regional economic integration and bolstering SMEs' participation in regional and global markets.
The MOEA stated that the APEC MRT Meeting is chiefly convened to promote study on the FTAAP and assist APEC's MSMEs to explore the global market. ROC representatives actively engaged in relevant discussions concerning the FTAAP and formed a core formulating team with 13 other member economies; thereby, the nation could make concrete contributions in the future.
To realize the Boracay Action Agenda, from 2016 to 2020 member economies can make relevant proposals to promote MSMEs' participation in the global market. ROC representatives at the meeting pronounced that the nation has a sound system that has proven effective in helping SMEs to explore the global market, and the ROC is very willing to share its relevant experience with all APEC members.