APEC: Fostering Greater SME Participation in Global Value Chains Resources 2022


Sponsoring Economy:
Australia

Co-sponsoring APEC economies:
Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, United States

The purpose of this initiative is to improve the opportunities for SMEs to engage in international trade through better participation in global value chains. Greater participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs) may provide SMEs with an additional channel to grow their markets and increase their productivity.  Their partnership with multinational enterprises (MNEs) might also improve their access to finance and longer-term viability.

This initiative involved four discussion sessions. Additional information can be found below.

Seminars

SESSION 1: DEEP DIVE ON LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORT

Thursday 25 August 2022
11:30am – 1pm Australian Eastern Standard Time
Online (view recording)

Objectives

In this session, we sought to understand:

  • The importance of transparency and availability of information
  • The role of 3PL/4PL services
  • Efforts to improve interoperability of platforms

 

Panellist biographies

SESSION 2:  UNDERSTANDING MNE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPLIERS AND PARTNERS

Tuesday 6 September 2022
2pm to 5pm Indochina Time (Thailand time)
Hybrid – online and in-person (Phuket, Thailand) (view recording)

Objectives

In this session, the discussion involved:

  • Highlighting the importance of partnerships in growing a business, including expanding to foreign markets through multinational companies.
  • Determining how to become a supplier and/or partner of multinational enterprises, and meet their requirements.
  • Understanding other ways to connect with multinationals and contribute to their global business.


Resource: Steps, Requirements and Benefits of SMEs Partnering with MNEs

SESSION 3:  GETTING CONTRACTS RIGHT AND ACCESSING FINANCE

Wednesday 28 September 2022
11:00am to 12:30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time
Online (view recording)

Objectives

In this session, we sought to understand:

  • What goes into supplier agreements, and what SMEs need to watch out for when making a deal;
  • What financial products and sources can SMEs access, and how to reduce costs from cross-border payments; and
  • Whether innovations by fintechs could benefit SMEs, and what can governments do to promote fintechs.


Panellist biographies

SESSION 4: TRADE IN SERVICES

Wednesday 26 October 2022
12:00pm to 1:30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time
Online (view recording)

Objectives

In this session, we sought to understand:

  • Issues faced by services SMEs when doing cross-border business
  • How services providers contribute to the success of other exporters
  • How new technologies enhance trade in services.

 

Panellist biographies

ARTICLES

We thank representatives of the below organisations for joining this initiative as panellists and/or participants, and for sharing their insights.

Partnerships and speaking opportunities

If you are interested in partnering on related projects in future, or would like to be involved as a speaker, please provide your details to info@export.org.au.

APEC: Fostering Greater SME Participation in Global Value Chains Resources 2022