NZ Minister Comments from APEC Ministerial Meeting

NZ Minister Comments from APEC Ministerial Meeting

Hobart, Australia, March 10, 2007 -- The 14th APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministers Meeting concluded in Hobart today with APEC economies anticipated to receive benefits from the agreed outcomes across a range of areas.

Key outcomes of the 14th SME Ministerial Meeting include:

The Chair of the meeting and Australia’s Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Hon. Fran Bailey noted that "SMEs are a substantial source of wealth for the region and this meeting has examined a wide range of practical ideas and initiatives to help this sector grow and prosper. In helping it grow we are contributing to the wellbeing of our communities across the APEC region,"

"This meeting was especially significant as delegates were able to see first hand how innovation can drive productivity and protect the environment."

Minister Bailey said the lessons learned from Hobart would be put into practice almost immediately and some of the initial results would be reported on at next year's APEC meeting in Peru.

The 14th APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting was held in Hobart on March 8-9. The next APEC SME Ministerial Meeting will be held in Chiclayo, Peru, in September 2008.

ENDS

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