KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) — The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) needs to build an ecosystem that supports enterprise creation and improves the environment for innovation, as well as facilitates financial inclusion for start-ups, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan said.

He said Malaysia recognises the vital role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in bringing new ideas to the market and fostering innovation.

Ahmad highlighted Malaysia’s initiatives for modernisation and automation of MSMEs, including focusing on the Soft Loan Scheme for Automation & Modernisation (SLSAM).

SLSAM seeks to encourage MSMEs in Malaysia to embrace automation and modernisation of their businesses.

“We further applaud the Philippines for putting the MSMEs at the forefront of its priorities this year, and we fully support the ‘APEC Iloilo Initiative’ which complements the ‘Boracay Action Agenda’ in promoting conducive policy,...

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Asean countries are on track for progressive liberalisation of trade within the region, covering 128 sub-sectors via the Asean Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS).

The liberalisation will boost the services sector’s contribution to the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) from the current 40% to 50%, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

He said AFAS will be a platform for services providers to take advantage of the market openings as well as to benefit from new ideas and processes arising out of the opening of the services sector.

Efforts has been put into concluding the AFAS 10th package by year-end to provide wider and better opportunities for members in tapping the benefits of the services sector,” he said in his opening address at the inaugural Asean Service Provider Confederation (ASPC) meeting yesterday.

His speech was read by Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) CEO Datuk Dzulkifli Mahmud. Last year, Asean...

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• discuss ways to give impetus to conclude the Doha Development Agenda(DDA) negotiations;
• review the international economic and trade environment and APEC’s efforts in mitigating protectionism; 
• evaluate progress made by APEC’s economies in realising free and open trade and investment in the region, in line with the objectives of the Bogor Goals; 
• discuss ways to accelerate on-going work programmes and identify new measures to strengthen regional economic integration;
• exchange views on ways to strengthen long-term growth in the Asia Pacific region remised on balanced, inclusive, sustainable, knowledge-based and secure growth; and
• seek new ways to enhance human security with a specific focus on food security, pandemic preparedness and counter terrorism measures. 

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• China;
• Hong Kong;
• Indonesia;
• Japan;
• Singapore;
• United States of America; and

• ·         Introduction to Investment Regimes;
• ·         Investment Priority Plan/Equivalent Policy;
• ·         Regulation and Conditions of Foreign Investment;
• ·         Investment Promotion and Facilitation;
• ·         Investment and Intellectual Property Rights Protection;
• ·         Movement of Persons; and

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APEC and the World Bank on 18 May 2011 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on food safety in the Asia-Pacific region. Inger Andersen, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development and the co-chairs of the APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum, Steve McCutcheon from Australia and Lin Wei from China, signed the MoU in the margins of a series of APEC meetings in Montana, US. With the signing of the MoU, both organisations will work together closely on training programs to improve food safety standards and practices in the region, as well as to facilitate trade. The programmes will enable more growers, producers and food safety officials to understand and utilise preventative controls – resulting in safer food for consumers and fewer safety incidents in food trade. This MoU will also strengthen the efforts to mobilise resources, promote and support capacity building to better ensure food safety concerns globally. MITI Weekly Bulletin Vol.143,... Read More

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APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) serves as a pre-cleared multiple-entry visa for business people in participating APEC economies. The card allows its holders to use specially-designated “fast track” immigration lanes at major international gateways. In order to make the card more effective and user-friendly, APEC is now conducting the ABTC Client Satisfaction and New Applicant Surveys. The objective is to find ways to simplify procedures for renewing an ABTC. Valuable feedback on the ABTC scheme from existing card holders and new applicants will be taken into consideration in further improving the ABTC thus making business travel more convenient. The surveys will also examine business travel patterns of both ABTC holders and non-ABTC holders to compare the differences in monetary and time costs incurred, thereby measuring the benefits of the scheme. Responses are filed anonymously and the survey results will be used to further develop client service standards and to identify... Read More

Y.B Dato’ Mukhriz Tun Mahathir, Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI) telah mengadakan lawatan kunjungan hormat ke Media Prima Berhad TV3 pada 11 Julai 2011. Lawatan ini bertujuan untuk membincangkan tentang APEC Young Entrepreneurs’ Summit (APEC YES 2011) yang dijadualkan akan berlangsung pada 18 hingga 20 Oktober 2011 bertempat di Berjaya Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur. APEC YES 2011 akan dirasmikan oleh YAB Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak, Perdana Menteri Malaysia.Turut hadir mengiringi YB Timbalan Menteri MITI adalah Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif SME Corp Dato’ Hafsah Hashim serta pegawai-pegawai daripada SME Corp dan MITI. Manakala pihak TV3 diketuai oleh Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan, Media Prima Bhd, Dato’ Amrin Awaluddin dan kakitangan Media Prima Berhad. APEC YES 2011 bertemakan “Unlocking economic value through innovation” akan disertai oleh 21 negara seperti Australia, Brunei, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Vietnam dan beberapa negara lain... Read More