The event on February 22 and 23 features representatives of 56 countries and 12 international organizations.

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OECD Secretary-General José Ángel Gurría Treviño at a conference in Paris in 2017

Themed “Strengthening SMEs and entrepreneurship for productivity and inclusive growth”, the conference aims to build a common agenda for all countries in supporting and helping solve problems facing SMEs and start-ups as well as obstacles to development and growth.

Addressing the event, OECD Secretary-General José Ángel Gurría Treviño highlighted the role of SMEs in economies and societies, especially in OECD member countries. SMEs represents 90 percent of businesses and are companies that create the most jobs for society.

He also stressed the necessity to provide better conditions for SMEs and start-ups to develop and contribute to the development of each OECD economy.

For his part, Mexican Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal underlined the role of the member countries’ governments in issuing public policies to support SMEs. He noted the event is a chance for the members to share experience and policies on SMEs, thus promoting economic growth amid globalization.

Panel discussions of the OECD ministerial conference focus on enabling SMEs to scale up, enhancing SME access to diversified financing instruments and fostering greater SME participation in a globally integrated economy.

Regarding the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Mexican minister said after the trade pact is signed in Chile in March, Mexico will immediately submit the agreement to its parliament for ratification.

He added CPTPP will help his country bolster trade ties with 10 other member nations, including Vietnam.

Source: VNA