SMEWG RESOURCES

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Chinese Taipei reported on the updated results of the project which brought together 19 economies and over 500 participants in collaboration and partnership with various leading international organizations and enterprises. It also briefed on the outcomes of the two phases of the projects and what would be expected in the next stage.

Collective management organizations (CMOs) are a crucial part of the supply chain of the entertainment, creative, and business industries that cover all audio and video works. With the advancement of digital technologies, it has become even more important for CMOs to establish an efficient and accessible licensing model and bring down licensing costs when authorizing to MSMEs, thereby improving the effectiveness of goods and services while creating new values in the industrial sector, which would be a crucial element to boost industrial growth. Chinese Taipei proposes the “Guidelines on the Best Licensing Practices of Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) to MSMEs” project. By sending out a questionnaire to all APEC economies, carrying out analysis, conducting in-depth follow-up interviews with chosen economies with successful licensing models, and holding workshop, Chinese Taipei intends to compile and publish a booklet on the best licensing practices of CMOs to MSMEs, which can serve as a highly practical and effective reference tool for CMOs, licensing practitioners, and government agencies in the APEC region.

Collective management organizations (CMOs) are a crucial part of the supply chain of the entertainment, creative, and business industries that cover all audio and video works. With the advancement of digital technologies, it has become even more important for CMOs to establish an efficient and accessible licensing model and bring down licensing costs when authorizing to MSMEs, thereby improving the effectiveness of goods and services while creating new values in the industrial sector, which would be a crucial element to boost industrial growth. Chinese Taipei proposes the “Guidelines on the Best Licensing Practices of Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) to MSMEs” project. By sending out a questionnaire to all APEC economies, carrying out analysis, conducting in-depth follow-up interviews with chosen economies with successful licensing models, and holding workshop, Chinese Taipei intends to compile and publish a booklet on the best licensing practices of CMOs to MSMEs, which can serve as a highly practical and effective reference tool for CMOs, licensing practitioners, and government agencies in the APEC region.

The Boracay Action Agenda to Globalize MSMEs encourages economies to provide timely and accurate information on export and import procedures and requirements. Economies agreed to strengthen and promote the usage of trade information portals on goods and services trade. In addition, the APEC Service Competitiveness Roadmap (2016) instructs APEC Economies to develop a set of good practice principles on domestic regulations in the services sector, and subsequently, the APEC Non-binding Principles for Domestic Regulation of the Services Sector (the DR Principles) was endorsed at CSOM 2018. In light of this background, this survey invites APEC Economies to provide information regarding the regulatory regimes applicable to “online shopping platform services” according to the regulatory principles set out in the DR Principles. Online shopping platform services refer to the provision of internet-based platform (website) services for wholesale and retail products and services mainly by third parties. Four categories of regulatory information are surveyed: 1) licensing requirements and procedures; 2) qualification requirements and procedures; 3) transparency; and 4) business names. A total of 19 responses were received from APEC Economies (AUS, CDA, CHL, PRC, HKC, INA, JPN, ROK, MAS, MEX, NZ, PE, PHL, RUS, SGP, CT, THA, US, and VN). According to the responses collected, the practices of most Economies are consistent with the DR Disciplines. The DR Principles offer a good benchmark to understand convergences and divergences in related e-commerce regulatory regimes across the APEC region, as well as provide a basis for information- and experience-sharing. The collated results is published in the APEC MSME Marketplace with a view to facilitating e-commerce through enhanced regulatory transparency and predictability.

The Boracay Action Agenda to Globalize MSMEs encourages economies to provide timely and accurate information on export and import procedures and requirements. Economies agreed to strengthen and promote the usage of trade information portals on goods and services trade. In addition, the APEC Service Competitiveness Roadmap (2016) instructs APEC Economies to develop a set of good practice principles on domestic regulations in the services sector, and subsequently, the APEC Non-binding Principles for Domestic Regulation of the Services Sector (the DR Principles) was endorsed at CSOM 2018. This survey invites APEC Economies to provide information regarding the regulatory regimes applicable to “online shopping platform services” according to the regulatory principles set out in the DR Principles. Online shopping platform services refer to the provision of internet-based platform (website) services for wholesale and retail products and services mainly by third parties. Four categories of regulatory information are surveyed: 1) licensing requirements and procedures; 2) qualification requirements and procedures; 3) transparency; and 4) business names. A total of 19 responses were received from APEC Economies (AUS, CDA, CHL, PRC, HKC, INA, JPN, ROK, MAS, MEX, NZ, PE, PHL, RUS, SGP, CT, THA, US, and VN). According to the responses collected, the practices of most Economies are consistent with the DR Disciplines. The DR Principles offer a good benchmark to understand convergences and divergences in related e-commerce regulatory regimes across the APEC region, as well as provide a basis for information- and experience-sharing.

Hong Kong, China made a presentation on the economy’s support measures provided to SMEs in the creative industries, with a focus on the design sector. These include all-round support to nurture design start-ups through the Design Incubation Programme; revitalized decommissioned buildings to provide space for design studies and exhibition and art venues; and funding support through the CreateSmartInitiative to promote the development of the industries. Altogether, the support measures facilitate SMEs in the field to grow and establish their business in both locally and overseas.

Hong Kong, China made a presentation introducing their network of government and quasi-government support centres for SMEs. These centers serve to look after SMEs’ needs in their establishment and operation in the form of information and advisory services of Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (“SUCCESS”) run by the Trade and Industry Department, enhancement of business operation by the IT solution services of Hong Kong Productivity Council’s “SME One” and “Inno Space”, and market expansion by the export market-oriented services of the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council’s “SME Centre”.

Hong Kong, China’s best practice sharing focused on support for innovative start-ups, especially Fintec start-ups. Supporting start-ups was an important part of Hong Kong, China’s drive to develop innovation and technology for the economy. A broad range of measures were adopted such as enhancing existing start-up incubation programmes, introducing new programmes, reducing general and specific taxes, and improving SME funding schemes to enable start-ups to benefit as well.

In regard of supporting SMEs through the strengthening of the market and accessibility to finance, Indonesia established the Marketing Services Agency (LLP‐KUKM) and the Revolving Fund Agency (LPDB KUMKM). LLP‐KUKM aims to strengthen the promotion and marketing of products existing SMEs across Indonesia, by providing provincial pavilions, market information, consulting, training, etc. LPDB‐KUMKM is to ease SMEs’ access to finance, through the provision of easiness interest include flexible loans.

Promoting Innovative Economy through APEC Co-Incubation Initiative 2014/SMEWG39/018 Agenda Item: 11.3.2 ndonesia stated that business incubators were key tools for fostering private sector development through systematizing the process of assisting new technology-based business start-ups. As growing economies require continuous innovation, it was imperative to look for suitable opportunities overseas to be incubated in-house for common benefit. For that purpose, Indonesia proposed this initiative in order to further economic growth by fostering private sector development through the building of a common platform for entrepreneurship and an award/innovation competition for co-incubation.

Objectives: To enhance entry of MSMEs including smallholders into local, domestic and international market is one of the key elements to increase their income and to foster rural development. The seminar aimed to share best practices and technology to increase efficiency and production levels of MSME holders, identify capacities needed by MSMEs (i.e. stable production, quality, regulatory compliance) for market entry at various levels and examine potential measures for aiding market entry. Beneficiaries: Public, private, and academic representatives in charge of agriculture, forestrt, fisheries, rural development and poverty alleviation from APEC economies as well as delegates attending FSW 2018.