Andrew Ure, Head of Trade and Economic Affairs in the Asia-Pacific for Google at the event (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Asia Pacific’s most talented software and web developers took partin a 24-hour “APEC App Challenge”, a joint initiative by the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade, the Asia Foundation and Google, in Hanoi on May 18.
The challengewas held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)’sSecond Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM2) and the 23rd MinistersResponsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in the city.
It aims tohighlight new ways of promoting inclusive, innovative, and sustainable growthin Asia-Pacific economies and stipulate policies that will promote moreinnovation to address trade issues.
Eleven teamsof developers from nine APEC member economies, including China, Indonesia,Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand andVietnam, participated in the event seeking to build a new mobile or websolution to one or more key challenges faced by micro-, small- and medium-sizedenterprises (MSMEs) who are interested in expanding their businesses throughcross-border trade.
Andrew Ure,Head of Trade and Economic Affairs in the Asia-Pacific for Google said theInternet has dramatically lowered the costs of exporting goods and services formicro- and small-sized businesses. It’s opened up tremendous opportunities forthem to connect to new customers all across the Asia-Pacific and the world.
This project is designed to empower these businesses to take the first steps toexporting their products and services, so they and their communities canbenefit from access to a wider market, faster economic growth, and the creationof more jobs, he noted.
Deputy Headof the e-Commerce and Information Technology Department Lai Viet Anh viewedthat although the Internet has dramatically cut down the exporting costs forSMEs, especially in developing economies, businesses in the region are facing anumber of challenges and the benefits from international trade remain elusive.
The Asia Foundation’sSenior Director of Digital Media and Technology Programme John Karr said theAPEC App Challenge this year is particularly important to the region where SMEsaccount for about 98 percent of all enterprises and employ two-third of theregion’s labour force.
The winnerswill be announced during the APEC Symposium on Trade and Innovation on May 19.
In addition, teams competing in the challenge will also be considered for theAPEC Digital Prosperity Award, a special prize for the creation of a new digitalproduct that uses innovations to expand inclusive growth across economies inthe region.-VNA
The challengewas held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)’sSecond Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM2) and the 23rd MinistersResponsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in the city.
It aims tohighlight new ways of promoting inclusive, innovative, and sustainable growthin Asia-Pacific economies and stipulate policies that will promote moreinnovation to address trade issues.
Eleven teamsof developers from nine APEC member economies, including China, Indonesia,Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand andVietnam, participated in the event seeking to build a new mobile or websolution to one or more key challenges faced by micro-, small- and medium-sizedenterprises (MSMEs) who are interested in expanding their businesses throughcross-border trade.
Andrew Ure,Head of Trade and Economic Affairs in the Asia-Pacific for Google said theInternet has dramatically lowered the costs of exporting goods and services formicro- and small-sized businesses. It’s opened up tremendous opportunities forthem to connect to new customers all across the Asia-Pacific and the world.
This project is designed to empower these businesses to take the first steps toexporting their products and services, so they and their communities canbenefit from access to a wider market, faster economic growth, and the creationof more jobs, he noted.
Deputy Headof the e-Commerce and Information Technology Department Lai Viet Anh viewedthat although the Internet has dramatically cut down the exporting costs forSMEs, especially in developing economies, businesses in the region are facing anumber of challenges and the benefits from international trade remain elusive.
The Asia Foundation’sSenior Director of Digital Media and Technology Programme John Karr said theAPEC App Challenge this year is particularly important to the region where SMEsaccount for about 98 percent of all enterprises and employ two-third of theregion’s labour force.
The winnerswill be announced during the APEC Symposium on Trade and Innovation on May 19.
In addition, teams competing in the challenge will also be considered for theAPEC Digital Prosperity Award, a special prize for the creation of a new digitalproduct that uses innovations to expand inclusive growth across economies inthe region.-VNA
VNA
