In the APEC region, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for around 90 percent of all businesses and employ as much as 60 percent of the work force. At present, however, they generate only around 30 percent of exports. APEC’s Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG) therefore works to encourage the development of SMEs and build their capacity to engage in international trade.
The working group has the following priority areas for action:

• Building Management Capability, Entrepreneurship and Innovation;
• Financing;
• Business Environment, Market Access and Internationalization.