• Palace: Authorities are doing everything to ensure ‘favorable environment’ during APEC Summit
• President Aquino joins Muslim community in celebrating ‘Eid’l Adha’

APEC NEWS RELEASES

• APEC Small, Medium Enterprise Working Group concludes 41st meeting
• APEC working group drafts strategy to link Small, Medium Enterprises to global market
• APEC to give small businesses a bigger voice
• APEC fora aligning frameworks, initiatives for capacity building of small businesses
• No small, medium businesses in the global market, no inclusive growth – Domingo
• APEC Ministerial Meeting in Iloilo eyes greater economic role for small, medium businesses
• Iloilo’s ‘hablon’ takes the spotlight at the welcome dinner for APEC ministers

“We also had an opportunity to benchmark each member economy’s interventions to their respective MSMEs. So, we are trying to compare and find some good ideas that can also be replicated here in the Philippines,” Bureau of MSME Development Director Jerry Clavesillas said during a press briefing.

Clavesillas said benchmarking such interventions allows policymakers in the APEC region to review programs for MSMEs.

Among the interventions discussed during the meeting were financial facilities, market and technical interventions.

“This is a venue for us in the APEC region to sort of harmonize our interventions because the bottom line is to make each of our MSMEs competitive,” Clavesillas noted.

“Because we are talking of global trade, or global markets, each member economy’s MSMEs must be able to do global market, global trade at a competitive pace with everyone within the region,” he added.

Micro, small and medium enterprises account for 97 percent of enterprises in the APEC region; and 50 percent to 80 percent of the region’s workforce.

They contribute significantly to economic growth, with a 20 percent to 50 percent share of the gross domestic product (GDP) of a majority of the APEC economies. PNA (kc)

“Lahat ay ginagawa natin para maging ligtas at tahimik ang ating bansa dahil ito (APEC) ay isang mahalagang international event na kung saan ay 19 years ago pa tayo huling nag-host at nais nating ipakita sa buong daigdig ang ating kakayahan na makapagbigay ng isang kaaya-aya at favorable na environment for the holding of a major summit involving 21 member economies of the APEC,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a media briefing at the Palace on Thursday.

He was responding to a question on how the recent abduction of three foreigners and a Filipina in Samal Island in Mindanao would affect the holding of the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Manila.

On several countries’ issuance of an advisory against travel to Mindanao, Secretary Coloma said this is their right.

“Samantala ay tinitiyak natin sa kanila na ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat para din matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga foreign nationals sa ating bansa at para masabat ang kriminalidad, sapagkat gusto natin na mapanatili ang katahimikan at kaayusan sa lahat ng bahagi ng ating bansa,” he said. PND (ag)

“We focus on how to help micro-, small-, medium-size enterprises access financing and how they can be part of the global value chain, and some of the obstacles that (they) must overcome to become competitive exporters,” APEC SMEWG Chair, John Andersen, said during a media briefing here on Thursday following the conclusion of the working group’s meeting.

The APEC working group aims to link MSMEs to large enterprises through a common network.

Large companies, which have a foothold in the international market, could directly tap MSMEs in the APEC network and make them part of their global economic activities, Andersen said.

“You don’t have to do or go export directly, but in a way, being part of the value chain — that already gives you an opportunity to become part of the global economy,” Bureau of MSME Development Director Jerry Clavesillas said during the press briefing.

“Meaning, if you are a small producer or a processor, or even a farmer — if you are producing primary crops as raw material for the processors or the MSMEs, you are already part of the value chain,” he added.

The results of the 41st APEC SMEWG Meeting will be presented to the 22nd SME Ministerial Meeting, which kicks off at the Iloilo Convention Center on Friday. PNA (kc)

“We provide MSMEs a bigger voice to give them more focused attention to enable them to compete globally,” Chair of the 22nd APEC Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, said as he opened the meeting at the Iloilo Convention Center here Friday.

Secretary Domingo noted that, as the global market becomes more complex and competitive, APEC economies need to work closely to help MSMEs overcome the challenges they face in cross-border trade.

This, he said, would enable them to take advantage of opportunities in the global market.

He further said that by engaging more MSMEs to participate in the global value chain, inclusive growth would be achieved in the region.

“An important component of this effort is to bolster their ability to take advantage of cross-border business opportunities that will help boost our economy in the process. But without MSMEs in the global market, growth cannot be inclusive,” he pointed out.

Domingo said the APEC SME Ministerial Meeting shall hinge on this year’s APEC theme of “Building Inclusive Economies; Building a Better World”.

“Under this banner, we have committed to establish the region towards bridging the gap in economic development and sustaining growth with equity,” he added.

The APEC SME Ministerial Meeting chair also pushed for the conclusion and endorsement of the Iloilo Action Initiative that will link MSMEs to the global market through e-commerce. PNA (kc)

“Let solidarity, tranquility, and clarity of purpose prevail over you on this solemn occasion, as you ruminate on Ibraham’s tale that reveals unwavering, empowering faith and the tenacity of the human spirit,” the President said in his message to the Muslim community.

Eid’l Adha, or the Muslim Day of Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to follow Allah’s (God’s) command to sacrifice his son.

“May this day likewise remind us of the stories of sacrifice upon which we built our nation; we owe this era of peace to those who readily laid down their lives to secure a better future for their fellowmen,” said President Aquino.

“Never will we let their honor be tainted by mistrust, viciousness, and malice sowed by those who seek to hinder us on our march along the Daang Matuwid. We, as adamantly and relentlessly as our heroes, will continue to fight for their dream: A peaceful, harmonious, and inclusive Philippines,” he said. PND (ag)

Chair of the APEC SME Ministerial Meeting, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, said here Friday that the Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT), Finance Ministers, and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) have developed programs for MSME capacity building, with strategies complementing one another.

“I am pleased with the alignment across different fora and the convergence towards initiatives that will benefit MSMEs, particularly in helping them go global,” Secretary Domingo said at the opening of the meeting at the Iloilo Convention Center.

“This is a clear manifestation that we want growth to include everyone, to matter for everyone,” he added.

He cited that the MRT Meeting in Boracay last May launched the Boracay Action Agenda of globalizing MSMEs.

The MRT discussion focused on trade policies that harness the collective efforts of stakeholders from government, business sector, academia, and international organization.

The Boracay Action Agenda also centered on trade facilitation, e-commerce, financing, and institutional support to globalize MSMEs.

Early this month, the Finance Ministers Meeting in Cebu put forward the Cebu Action Plan, which calls for initiatives to promote the financing environment for MSMEs.

Under the Cebu Action Plan is the initiative endorsed by the ABAC — the Financial Infrastructure Development Network — a public-private cooperation that aims to facilitate workshops, dialogues and studies to support the establishment of legal frameworks for Credit Information Systems, secured transactions and the use of movable assets as collateral.

Only on Thursday, the APEC SME Working Group concluded its 41st meeting with the Iloilo Action Initiative, which provides specific steps on how MSMEs could tap e-commerce to enable them to enter the global value chain.

“All our efforts are coming together in the development of a package of policies and initiatives that foster MSMEs growth and promote entrepreneurship, innovation and trade,” Domingo noted. PNA (kc)

This was pointed out by Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo in his opening remarks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Small and Medium Enterprises (APEC SME) Ministerial Meeting here Friday, as senior officials responsible for trade of APEC member economies are set to finalize and endorse the Iloilo Initiative.

The initiative will provide MSMEs a bigger voice and better opportunities, as well as advance the policy framework that will promote MSME participation in international trade and global value chains through the APEC MSME Marketplace.

According to Secretary Domingo, MSMEs play a vital role in the realization of a prosperous Asia-Pacific region as they comprise the great majority of businesses.

Thus, he said, it is very important that the approach of APEC embraces the interests of small businesses, particularly micro and small enterprises.

The Philippine trade and industry chief noted that an important component of this effort is to bolster the ability of MSMEs to take advantage of cross-border business opportunities that will “help boost our economies in the process”.

“With the global market becoming increasingly complex and competitive, we need to work even closer together to help MSMEs overcome the challenges in cross-border trade and allow these enterprises to take advantage of opportunities in the global market,” said Domingo.

In addition to MSME-friendly policies, he said the MSMEs’ capability to meet market requirements is all the more important in increasing their chances of entering the global markets.

Relative to this, Domingo called on APEC delegates to support the discussion in line with this year’s APEC theme, “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World”.

He said under this banner, they have committed to establish a region geared towards bridging the gap in economic development and sustaining growth with equity.

“The APEC comprises economies at various points in the development spectrum. Within our economies, disparities continue to exist. We need to ensure that our work in APEC will benefit all,” he said.

He noted that the convergence in the priorities of the APEC provides “greater latitude” for member economies to cooperate and collaborate, particularly in identifying and implementing concrete, practical and high-impact initiatives.

“All our efforts are coming together in the development of a package of policies and initiatives that foster MSME growth and promote entrepreneurship, innovation and trade,” Domingo declared. (APEC Communications Group)

In his opening remarks, Secretary Domingo said he is looking forward to the discussions to finalize and endorse the Iloilo Initiative, which will open greater opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“The convergence of our priorities provides greater latitude for us to cooperate and collaborate, particularly in identifying and implementing concrete, practical and high-impact initiatives,” he said.

“All our efforts are coming together in the development of a package of policies and initiatives that foster MSME growth and promote entrepreneurship, innovation and trade.”

During Friday’s meeting, anchored on the theme “Mainstreaming Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Global Economy”, APEC officials and delegates have the distinct privilege of working directly with MSME stakeholders, Domingo said.

By listening to them, the APEC could come up with a model in an international scale that would give MSMEs a bigger voice, which in turn would enable them to compete globally, he added.

Domingo mentioned previous APEC initiatives, such as the Boracay Action Agenda that was endorsed by Ministers Responsible for Trade for adoption by APEC economic leaders when they meet in November.

To fully implement the Boracay Action Agenda, Domingo said, a plan is being developed to bring the agenda from framework level to a more action-oriented work program.

He also mentioned the Cebu Action Plan, which calls for initiatives to promote an enabling environment for MSMEs, including trade, supply chain, and alternative financing mechanisms.

“There are also parallel works of the APEC Business Advisory Council on enhancing access to finance for MSMEs and in increasing market access through innovation in trade facilitation,” he said.

Underscoring the significant role of MSMEs in the regional economy and in realizing a prosperous Asia Pacific, he said it is thus important that the APEC approach embraces the interest of micro and small enterprises.

An important component of this effort is to bolster their ability to take advantage of cross-border business opportunities that will help boost APEC economies in the process, the trade official noted. PND (as)

Entitled “Fused”, the presentation showcased a fusion of music, dance, and fashion show that featured costumes from the country’s pre-Hispanic and colonial periods.

Baihana and the Philippine Opera Company serenaded the delegates with kundimans and folk songs that were fused with classical and modern arias.

The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group and Ballet Philippines wowed the audience with traditional dances fused with ballet and hip-hop, in a performance that also featured Kenjohns, Rockstar, and solo violinist Jobry Cimafranca.

Trixie Esteban’s rendition of Floy Quintos’ and Jesse Lucas’ song, “Fusing our Identities” was also a crowd-pleaser.

However, the show’s star was Iloilo’s hablon. The colorful hand-woven textile made of cotton, pineapple fiber, abaca, polyester, and silk from the one-time textile capital of the Philippines, took center stage when renowned Ilongga fashion designer, Jaki Peñalosa, presented her collection of indigenous clothes with a contemporary touch.

Sharing the runway with Peñalosa was top Filipino fashion designer, Maxie Cinco, who showcased contemporary Filipiniana haute couture.

The presentation culminated in the grand performance of Iloilo’s famous Dinagyang festival by members of the award-winning Tribu Panayanon. It was indeed a fitting finale for an evening of culture. PNA (kc)