Minister Ng participates in APEC ministerial meeting on small and medium-sized businesses

October 23, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, yesterday participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC’s) ministerial meeting on small and medium-sized businesses, focused on best practices for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and advancing business digitalization to build the foundation for the economy of the future.

Minister Ng emphasized the importance of a wide range of economic supports to small businesses across all sectors to position them for a strong and sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19. She spoke about how open supply chains and rules-based trade will ensure that businesses see minimal disruptions and that essential goods and services, such as food and medicine, continue to flow.

The Minister reiterated Canada’s belief that the way forward to economic recovery is by strengthening and expanding global trade to benefit everyone.

Minister Ng also highlighted the importance of advancing digital trade and e-commerce as a way to eliminate barriers faced by traditional small and medium-sized businesses. Helping small businesses develop and advance their digital capabilities will allow them to take advantage of opportunities in new markets in a post-COVID-19 world.

This meeting builds on the recent ministerial APEC joint statement on COVID-19 that highlighted Canada and its APEC partners’ unwavering commitment to work together to mitigate the health and economic impacts of the pandemic on Canadians and people around the world.

Quotes

“As the world confronts the challenges created by COVID-19, it is crucial that we continue to strengthen an inclusive, sustainable and rules-based trading system while providing small businesses with the tools they need to pursue and benefit from e-commerce and digital trade.”

- Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

Quick facts

Canada supports APEC’s goal in achieving free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.
Canada is proud to be a founding member of APEC. Enhancing economic cooperation and free and open trade is critical to prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Canada fully supports Malaysia’s APEC 2020 priorities, particularly the focus on inclusive economic growth that benefits all in society.
Canada looks forward to welcoming an APEC post-2020 vision that seeks to advance regional economic integration by fostering an open, market-oriented environment driven by the digital economy and innovative technologies.

Associated links

Contacts

Youmy Han
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade
343-551-0246
[email protected]

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
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