Mr. Michael Ahern T.D., Minister for Innovation attends the First ASEM Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting in Beijing, China

The Minister for Innovation, Mr. Michael Ahern TD, yesterday (Tuesday 30 October) addressed the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting which opened in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This is the first ever SME Ministerial Meeting proposed and hosted by China within the ASEM framework.

Minister Ahern praised the Chinese organisers for putting the emphasis of the conference on the needs of SMEs. He said: “There is widespread acceptance across the globe that Governments must put in place appropriate policies that provide a supportive environment for SME’s to operate under. Over 97% of SMEs in Ireland employ approximately 800,000 people and contribute enormously to the Irish economy in terms of jobs, local services and cultural life of the whole population”.

Minister Ahern explained to the 45 ASEM members that Ireland recognised the importance of the small business sector and the challenges it faced by establishing the Small Business Forum in 2005. In its report of 2006, the Forum outlined a detailed set of proposals designed to enable the small business sector in Ireland to achieve its full potential and enhance the significant contribution the sector already makes to the economic well-being of the country.

The Minister said: “The involvement of the main stakeholders in Ireland on the work of the Small Business Forum proved a very effective approach to the identification of the key issues facing the sector in Ireland. As a result, the Forum’s work has exercised a significant influence on my Government’s approach to the sector.”

ENDS/IP17

Notes for Editors

The First ASEM SMEs Ministerial Meeting was held in Beijing on 30-31 October 2007. SMEs Ministers and their representatives from 45 ASEM members gathered under the theme “Drive the Future with Innovation, Promote Development through Cooperation” and conducted extensive and in-depth discussions on issues of common interest regarding SMEs such as technological innovation, business development services, and cooperation and development, and achieved the following outcomes:

Promote the development of SMEs to build a harmonious world.

Reinforce economic and trade cooperation to promote economic prosperity in Asia and Europe.

Improve industrial structure, facilitate open markets, and promote fair competition to assist SMEs to address challenges of globalisation.

Enhance innovative capability to achieve sustainable development.

Increase employment opportunities to attain general social affluence.

Complete business development services to improve the environment for enterprises’ development.