외교부

2019 APEC SME MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
“SME Financing and Digital Transformation in a Globalized Economy”

Concepcion City, 5-6 September 2019

1. We, the APEC SME Ministers and our representatives met in Concepcion, Chile on September 5and 6, 2019, for the 25th APEC SME Ministerial Meeting, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Juan AndresFontaine, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism of Chile. We appreciate and thank the Smalland Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and other stakeholders from across the APEC region for their activeparticipation during SME Week in Concepcion.

2. This year, as we celebrate APEC’s thirtieth anniversary, we highlight that APEC has alwaysrecognized the significant role SMEs play in the growth and dynamism of the Asia-Pacific region. At theirfirst meeting in 1993, APEC Leaders identified the importance of APEC in advancing a policy dialogueon SMEs. Today, we continue to support the framework provided by the Boracay Action Agenda toGlobalize MSMEs (BAA) in guiding APEC’s work for MSME participation in international trade. Improvingoutcomes for SMEs supports APEC’s regional economic integration agenda and moves us closer toachieving the Bogor Goals for free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific.

3. We welcome the APEC 2019 theme “Connecting People, Building the Future,” and all the priorities,which support the SME agenda. We want to highlight the “Women, SMEs and Inclusive Growth” priority,as women-led SMEs can face specific challenges and carry great potential. Our discussions inConcepcion have covered a range of key issues, with a focus on “SME Financing and DigitalTransformation in a Globalized Economy.”

Digital Transformation for SMEs and Entrepreneurs

4. Today, new digital technologies are deepening connections in the Asia-Pacific. Enabling SMEs toadapt, thrive and participate actively in the digital transformation is essential for boosting inclusiveeconomic growth. We underscore the need to foster innovation and promote digitalization to enhancecompetitiveness and accelerate the growth of SMEs. We encourage APEC initiatives that promote thedigitalization of SMEs such as online-to-offline channels, mobile-commerce, sharing economy and theInternet of Things.

5. We emphasize the potential for Big Data and data analytics to improve SME production processesand encourage internationalization.

6. We support ongoing APEC work that fosters the digitalization of government services behind andacross borders. These developments benefit SMEs and entrepreneurs by creating efficiencies andreducing costs when engaging with government.

7. We welcome initiatives that support high-quality employment and entrepreneurship pathways forwomen in the Digital Economy, such as the Pathways to Gender Inclusion workshop carried out thisweek.

8. E- commerce platforms can serve as important channels for SMEs to gain greater access to diverseglobal markets and can mitigate risk within supply chains. We welcome the efforts led by ABAC topromote the development of e-commerce among SMEs, which will facilitate the B2B transactional phaseof the APEC MSME marketplace.

Fostering Financing for SMEs and Entrepreneurs
9. For SMEs to thrive, they need access to credit and diverse funding sources. Without adequatefinancing, SMEs struggle to gain market entry, scale up, and benefit from new technologies. We supportthe development of new financial services, including through innovative digital tools, that improvefinancial inclusion throughout the internationalization process. APEC can play a role in identifying needsand capacity building to ensure that SMEs can take advantage of these new opportunities.

10. We encourage more policy exchange and financing experience sharing with the private sector toboost public-private partnerships and raise awareness among SMEs about the benefits of the financialtechnology industry. The International Fintech Summit held September 3 and 4 was an example of APECtaking action in this area.

11. We note that SMEs are especially reliant on prompt payment flows through their supply chains. Latepayments can lead SMEs to turn to alternative sources of financing, which may incur higher interest orresult in debt. We encourage the development of policies that support fair business-to-business andbusiness-to-government commercial relations that promote a culture of timely payment to SMEs.

SMEs and Internationalization: a Better Way of Doing Business in a Globalized World
12. It is vitally important that we support SME participation in international trade, including increasedparticipation in global supply chains. Participation in global markets creates opportunities for SMEs toachieve economies of scale, accelerate innovation, and enhance productivity. We recognize theimportance of predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory frameworks for trade and investment. SMEsstand to benefit directly from improved market access conditions and the elimination of barriers to tradeand investment.

13. We welcome APEC’s work related to the 2019 “Integration 4.0” priority, on issues such as tradefacilitation, customs coordination, border management automation, regulatory convergence, participationin global value chains, people and knowledge mobility, and investment in infrastructure.

14. We support the development, on a pilot basis, of the APEC Collaborative Framework for OnlineDispute Resolution of Cross-Border Business-to-Business Disputes, which will provide a cost-effectiveand efficient platform to resolve low-value cross-border disputes.

15. We welcome the promotion of ethical business practices that support SMEs and sustainable trade.We encourage further collaboration to address the issues of ethics and to promote transparency andintegrity for SMEs in the internationalization process. We welcome the efforts to build sustainable andresilient businesses as described in the BAA through the sharing of information and best practices.

16. We recognize that a number of economies foster an enabling business environment and diversifiedbusiness opportunities through events and other initiatives. We welcome regional cooperation andsharing of best practices through SME IT promotion and innovation centers and initiatives that supportthe start-up and innovation ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific.

17. We encourage deeper dialogue with the private sector about the regional and internationalchallenges for SMEs and cooperation among economies, as exemplified by the Building for the FutureForum which took place on September 5. We welcome the APEC SME Summit, organized by ABAC,which will take place on November 14 in Santiago. We note the contribution of the annual APEC SMEBusiness Forum.

Looking Forward
18. We acknowledge the importance of the ongoing work of the SME Working Group, which met inQingdao in May and here in Concepcion this week. These meetings helped advance the SME WorkingGroup Strategic Plan 2017-2020 and we look forward to receiving a final report next year at the 26thAPEC SME Ministerial Meeting in Malaysia.