Forum APEC Relations
PRESS STATEMENT
10th October 2006
FORUM CALLS ON APEC TO STRENGTHEN SME DEVELOPMENT IN PACIFIC
The Pacific Islands Forum has called on APEC to help strengthen the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the Pacific Region.
Hon. John Silk, Minister for Resources and Development of the Republic of Marshall Islands, who represented the Pacific Islands Forum, made the call at the 13th APEC SME Ministerial Meeting held in Hanoi, Vietnam recently.
The Forum is an observer at APEC. Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are full members of APEC.
Mr Silk told the meeting: "The challenge for the Forum Islands Countries is how to generate sustainable economic growth to meet the needs of our people, particularly the thousands of youth who leave school each year to seek paid employment."
"This challenge is to be addressed through the broad-ranging Pacific Plan that was endorsed by Forum Leaders last year to guide our fragile economics towards deepened regional cooperation and integration."
He said the Pacific Plan identifies the private sector as a key player to help attain its goals.
"In that regard, small and medium enterprises are expected to make a considerable contribution towards expanding our island economies. SMEs could also help alleviate poverty, educate our children, empower women and promote gender equality, improve health, enhance environmental sustainability and contribute towards partnerships for development."
"APEC expertise and experiences can potentially support the Forum Islands Countries in these areas," he said.
Mr Silk added: "Two special areas of interest that could be explored to further our relationship relate to maximising benefits of business opportunities from remittances and secondly through improved SME productivity and competitiveness."
Mr Silk acknowledged the assistance that Forum Island Countries received to improve the region's technical capacities in microfinance from Indonesia. Experts from the Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), a world leader in microfinance, conducted in-country microfinance training workshops in Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu since 2005.
ENDS.
10th October 2006
FORUM CALLS ON APEC TO STRENGTHEN SME DEVELOPMENT IN PACIFIC
The Pacific Islands Forum has called on APEC to help strengthen the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the Pacific Region.
Hon. John Silk, Minister for Resources and Development of the Republic of Marshall Islands, who represented the Pacific Islands Forum, made the call at the 13th APEC SME Ministerial Meeting held in Hanoi, Vietnam recently.
The Forum is an observer at APEC. Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are full members of APEC.
Mr Silk told the meeting: "The challenge for the Forum Islands Countries is how to generate sustainable economic growth to meet the needs of our people, particularly the thousands of youth who leave school each year to seek paid employment."
"This challenge is to be addressed through the broad-ranging Pacific Plan that was endorsed by Forum Leaders last year to guide our fragile economics towards deepened regional cooperation and integration."
He said the Pacific Plan identifies the private sector as a key player to help attain its goals.
"In that regard, small and medium enterprises are expected to make a considerable contribution towards expanding our island economies. SMEs could also help alleviate poverty, educate our children, empower women and promote gender equality, improve health, enhance environmental sustainability and contribute towards partnerships for development."
"APEC expertise and experiences can potentially support the Forum Islands Countries in these areas," he said.
Mr Silk added: "Two special areas of interest that could be explored to further our relationship relate to maximising benefits of business opportunities from remittances and secondly through improved SME productivity and competitiveness."
Mr Silk acknowledged the assistance that Forum Island Countries received to improve the region's technical capacities in microfinance from Indonesia. Experts from the Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), a world leader in microfinance, conducted in-country microfinance training workshops in Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu since 2005.
ENDS.
