The event on February 22 and 23 featuresrepresentatives of 56 countries and 12 international organisations.
Themed “Strengthening SMEs and entrepreneurshipfor productivity and inclusive growth”, the conference aims to build a commonagenda for all countries in supporting and helping solve problems facing SMEsand start-ups as well as obstacles to development and growth.
Addressing the event, OECD Secretary-GeneralJosé Ángel Gurría Treviño highlighted the role of SMEs in economies andsocieties, especially in OECD member countries. SMEs represents 90 percent ofbusinesses and are companies that create the most jobs for society.
He also stressed the necessity to provide betterconditions for SMEs and start-ups to develop and contribute to the developmentof each OECD economy.
For his part, Mexican Secretary of EconomyIldefonso Guajardo Villarreal underlined the role of the member countries’governments in issuing public policies to support SMEs. He noted the event is achance for the members to share experience and policies on SMEs, thus promotingeconomic growth amid globalization.
Panel discussions of the OECD ministerialconference focus on enabling SMEs to scale up, enhancing SME access to diversifiedfinancing instruments and fostering greater SME participation in a globallyintegrated economy.
Regarding the Comprehensive and ProgressiveAgreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Mexican minister saidafter the trade pact is signed in Chile in March, Mexico will immediatelysubmit the agreement to its parliament for ratification.
He added CPTPP will help his country bolstertrade ties with 10 other member nations, including Vietnam.-VNA