Press Releases

DG of Trade and Industry attends APEC SME Ministerial Meeting
Tuesday, August 28, 2001

The Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr. Joshua Law, will lead a delegation to Shanghai today (August 28). He will represent the Secretary for Commerce and Industry to attend the 8th Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to be held in Shanghai on August 29 - 30.

The Meeting will provide an opportunity for ministers from APEC member economies with responsibility for SME policies to exchange views and discuss ways on facilitating the further development of SMEs.

Discussion at the meeting will cover three main areas, namely advancing technological innovation; facilitating financing; and improving environment for SME development.

During the Ministerial Meeting, ministers and heads of delegation will meet with the chairman and representatives of the APEC SME Business Forum, which will be held on August 27 - 30 in Shanghai. Businessmen, entrepreneurs, academics, and representatives from support organizations in APEC member economies will attend the Forum, which will deliberate on the theme of "New Century, New Challenges: Innovation and Development Environment". They will come up with recommendations on enhancing SME support for ministers' consideration.

Other members of the Hong Kong, China delegation include the Assistant Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr. Eugene Fung; and the Assistant Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Jeffrey Chan.

APEC comprises 21 members, namely Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; the People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Republic of Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States of America; and Vietnam.