In the framework of the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI), the SOM Friends of the Chair (FotC) held a workshop themed “Developing the Methodology for Measuring and Realizing the Sustainability of Cities in the APEC Region.” The Asia-Pacific region is currently taking the lead in the urbanization process in the world. In that context, the formation of policies for effective and sustainable development of infrastructure and measures to implement these policies are top priorities as well as challenges for quite a lot of APEC members.
At the workshop "Linking education and start-ups: Youth, women and athletes"
On sustainable urbanization, Dr. Malone Lee Lai Choo, Director of the Center for Sustainable Asian Cities of the School of Design and Environment - the National University of Singapore, shared that Singapore has been trying to make environment improvements for almost 40-50 years now. She said, “We have cleaned up rivers and seriously observed environmental laws and regulations to ensure polluters can be aware of their actions’ impacts. Singapore has developed waste management and stopped dumping wastes.” The delegate emphasized the importance of the engagement of urban residents and the partnership among the government,
businesses and people in improving environment
The workshop “Linking Education and Start-ups: Youth, Women and Athletes”, held by the Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG), is one of the initiatives contributing to the inclusive socio-economic development of APEC members. At the workshop, Le Thi Hoang Yen - Vice Head of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highlighted the importance of start-ups to APEC member economies. She wished that APEC delegates would contribute their ideas to linking education and start-ups with special attention to the youth, women and athletes. She also hoped that the workshop would further tighten cooperative relations and solidarity in all aspects among APEC members.
ASCC discussing measures to improve capacity and competitiveness of MSMEs
The same day, the conference of the APEC Study Center Consortium (ASCC) held its last session, discussing measures to improve the capacity and competitiveness of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Delegates at the conference affirmed the important contribution of MSMEs to the growth of APEC economies. However, MSMEs are still facing difficulties in accessing sources of finance, building partnerships, and developing their human resources. To adapt to new trends and challenges in the region, MSMEs should improve competitiveness based on the application of new technologies and e-commerce. Delegates put on the table a number of solutions to supporting start-up businesses, building a network of MSMEs, and enhancing MSMEs’ involvement in the global value chain.
After two days of discussion, the ASCC conference suggested various ideas and measures to enhance the dynamism of APEC, confirming APEC’s integral role in the shaping of the regional structure and its role as a leading mechanism for economic cooperation in the region and the world. The conference also highlighted that economies in the Asia-Pacific region serve as a driver for global growth and connectivity. The region accounts for 53.9% of the global GDP (as of 2015) and includes five out of the 10 economies attracting the largest amount of foreign investment in the world.
At the forum on food safety cooperation
Other events held on May 13 were the FotC’s meeting on trade facilitation and free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region; the plenary session of the CTI; the food safety cooperation forum of the
Sub-committee on Standards and Conformance; the education network meeting of the HRDWG; the HRDWG’s preparatory meeting for the High Level Policy Dialogue on Human Resources Development in the Digital Age slated for this May 15.
Translated by Huu Duong