The APEC Ministerial Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises should not only be a place to share past experiences, but also serve as a practical venue for active responses to change and collaborative future planning. It should establish new milestones that enhance forward-looking cooperation among APEC member countries.
Minister Han Seong-suk of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups noted this during her opening remarks at the 'APEC Ministerial Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises' held at the Jeju International Convention Center (ICC) on the 5th.
Minister Han said, "Today, small and medium enterprises are not only crucial economic agents but also central drivers of inclusive and sustainable growth," adding, "The fact that approximately 97% of all corporations in the APEC region are composed of small and medium enterprises underscores their significance." She further stated, "These entities create local jobs, lead innovation, and sustain the resilience and recovery of national economies."
Minister Han emphasized the crisis facing small and medium enterprises. He remarked, "Small and medium enterprises are confronted with numerous challenges," noting, "The uncertain global economy, rapidly changing technological landscape, and deepening digital divide and climate crises demand new adaptations and leaps forward from small and medium enterprises."
Continuing, he said, "Through this conference, we aim to concretize the future strategies for small and medium enterprises alongside APEC member countries and open a new horizon for international cooperation," sharing three key tasks and practical cooperation measures: 'innovation-driven growth based on new technologies', 'sustainable growth through smart policies', and 'inclusive growth through consolidation of connectivity.'
Minister Han stated, "Digital transformation through new technologies such as AI, data, cloud, and the Internet of Things is enhancing the productivity and efficiency of small and medium enterprises," and noted, "A comprehensive strategy at the policy, talent, and infrastructure levels is necessary to ensure that small and medium enterprises can actively utilize new technologies and ultimately lead innovation." He continued, "Our shared task is to create an ecosystem where various economic entities, such as women-owned businesses, youth startups, and enterprises for people with disabilities, can grow substantively in the market based on data analysis and proposing alternatives from diverse perspectives such as the economy, society, and environment."
Minister Han emphasized, "In today's world, where the climate crisis and resource depletion are deepening, to overcome these challenges and become the center of innovation and growth, policy measures such as support for carbon reduction technologies, green certification systems, and the activation of green finance must become more sophisticated and systematic."
Minister Han remarked, "Compared to global conglomerates, small and medium enterprises and startups are relatively constrained in terms of information, capital, and market access," and stated, "I believe that a key solution to overcoming these structural limitations is strengthening multilayered networks." He added, "Intergovernmental policy exchanges, as well as interactions among startups, partnerships between investors and policy institutions, and cross-border cooperation projects can open new opportunities for small and medium enterprises," emphasizing that "utilizing digital platforms for consolidation can be the key to promoting the globalization of small and medium enterprises by overcoming physical limitations."
Minister Han expressed, "I hope that during the process of today's Ministerial Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises, experiences from APEC member countries will be actively shared around these three key tasks," adding, "I hope it becomes a valuable foundation in seeking solutions that fit each region's circumstances."