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ASEAN, Canada agree to promote role of SMEs

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Canada have agreed to promote the role of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in regional economic development during the 14th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Meeting in Ottawa.
ASEAN, Canada agree to promote role of SMEs ảnh 1Illustrative image (Source: www.aseanprnetwork.org)
Hanoi (VNA) – Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) andCanada have agreed to promote the role of micro, small and medium-sizedenterprises (SMEs) in regional economic development during the 14th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Meeting in Ottawa.

Director General of the ASEAN Cooperation Department from the IndonesianMinistry of Foreign Affairs Jose Tavares said the role of SMEs are important toboosting economic development in ASEAN.

He also urged Canada to help SMEs in ASEAN with digital innovation.

The Canadian side promised to continue empowering SMEs in ASEAN through theCanada-Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development project on ASEANSMEs.

Through the project, Canada will build conductive policies and programmes to encourageASEAN’s SMEs to join global supply chains.

At the meeting, the Indonesian Government also welcomed Canada’s initiative toform an ASEAN-Canada free trade agreement (FTA) in the future, which looks to exploitcooperation potential with ASEAN - the sixth largest trade partner of the NorthAmerican nation.

The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia is working withCanadian experts to study the possibility of setting up the FTA, Tavaresrevealed.

The results of the study will be presented at a meeting of senior economicofficials of ASEAN and Canada in early July 2017, and the deal is hoped to beagreed this year.-VNA
VNA
#ASEAN #Canada #SMEs #regional economic development #14th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Meeting #Canada-Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development project #ASEAN-Canada free trade agreement ASEAN
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