Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, YB Minister of International Trade and Industry attended the 2016 APECMinisterial Meeting held in Lima, Peru from 17 - 18 November 2016. Under the theme of Quality Growth and Human Development APEC Ministers exchanged views on the state of the regional and global economy and how, against this backdrop, APEC can promote voluntary reforms in support of free trade and capital mobility, boost SMEs’ internationalization and participation in global value chains; and adopt shared goals to maximize the opportunities offered by digital trade, services and the knowledge economy.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) — The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) needs to build an ecosystem that supports enterprise creation and improves the environment for innovation, as well as facilitates financial inclusion for start-ups, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan said.

He said Malaysia recognises the vital role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in bringing new ideas to the market and fostering innovation.

Ahmad highlighted Malaysia’s initiatives for modernisation and automation of MSMEs, including focusing on the Soft Loan Scheme for Automation & Modernisation (SLSAM).

SLSAM seeks to encourage MSMEs in Malaysia to embrace automation and modernisation of their businesses.

“We further applaud the Philippines for putting the MSMEs at the forefront of its priorities this year, and we fully support the ‘APEC Iloilo Initiative’ which complements the ‘Boracay Action Agenda’ in promoting conducive policy,...

Asean countries are on track for progressive liberalisation of trade within the region, covering 128 sub-sectors via the Asean Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS).

The liberalisation will boost the services sector’s contribution to the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) from the current 40% to 50%, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

He said AFAS will be a platform for services providers to take advantage of the market openings as well as to benefit from new ideas and processes arising out of the opening of the services sector.

Efforts has been put into concluding the AFAS 10th package by year-end to provide wider and better opportunities for members in tapping the benefits of the services sector,” he said in his opening address at the inaugural Asean Service Provider Confederation (ASPC) meeting yesterday.

His speech was read by Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) CEO Datuk Dzulkifli Mahmud. Last year, Asean...

• discuss ways to give impetus to conclude the Doha Development Agenda(DDA) negotiations;
• review the international economic and trade environment and APEC’s efforts in mitigating protectionism; 
• evaluate progress made by APEC’s economies in realising free and open trade and investment in the region, in line with the objectives of the Bogor Goals; 
• discuss ways to accelerate on-going work programmes and identify new measures to strengthen regional economic integration;
• exchange views on ways to strengthen long-term growth in the Asia Pacific region remised on balanced, inclusive, sustainable, knowledge-based and secure growth; and
• seek new ways to enhance human security with a specific focus on food security, pandemic preparedness and counter terrorism measures. 

• China;
• Hong Kong;
• Indonesia;
• Japan;
• Singapore;
• United States of America; and

• ·         Introduction to Investment Regimes;
• ·         Investment Priority Plan/Equivalent Policy;
• ·         Regulation and Conditions of Foreign Investment;
• ·         Investment Promotion and Facilitation;
• ·         Investment and Intellectual Property Rights Protection;
• ·         Movement of Persons; and