APEC Osaka meet aimed at fostering small firms<\/p>\n
TOKYO (Kyodo): Trade ministers from countries of the Asia-
\nPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum will meet in Osaka on
\nOct. 22-23 to discuss ways to foster \"supporting industries\" in
\nthe area, Japanese trade ministry officials said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The general perception in the 17-member APEC is that small
\ncompanies could play a key role in achieving sustained economic
\ngrowth in the Asia-Pacific region, the officials said.<\/p>\n
The coming ministerial meeting on small firms, the first of
\nits kind by APEC, will explore ways to overcome various hardships
\nfacing such companies, ranging from backwardness in human
\nresources and technological development to difficulties in
\nraising money, the officials said.<\/p>\n
The conference is based on a Japanese proposal for reinforcing
\na policy dialogue on development of small companies in the Asia-
\nPacific region, which was unveiled at the informal summit meeting
\nof APEC in Seattle last November.<\/p>\n
Japanese International Trade and Industry Minister Ryutaro
\nHashimoto will chair the Osaka gathering, which will draw trade
\nand economic ministers from the 17 APEC members and Chile, a
\ncountry that will become an APEC member soon.<\/p>\n
Representatives from the private sector will also attend,
\nincluding those from Osaka-based small companies and the Pacific
\nBusiness Forum, an APEC suborgan.<\/p>\n
Development of supporting industries is important, especially
\nfor economies of developing countries and newly industrializing
\neconomies of Asia, in terms of job creation and improvement in
\ninternational balances of payments, the officials said.<\/p>\n
Japan, the United States and Australia say one key to solving
\nemployment problems in the Asia-Pacific area is linked to how new
\nbusiness could be created among small companies there, the
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
The coming Osaka meeting will begin with Japanese trade
\nminister Hashimoto's keynote address on Oct. 22.<\/p>\n
The first-day will center around a banquet that Hashimoto will
\nhost and bilateral meetings among the APEC countries, the
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
Discussions are slated for the second-day session of Oct. 23,<\/p>\n
The ministers will adopt a joint statement at the end of the
\ngathering.<\/p>\n
Agreements reached at the conference will be reported to the
\nsecond APEC informal summit in Bogor, Indonesia, on Nov. 15, the
\nofficials said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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