The 31st APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting

MSS Hosts Briefing with Embassy Officials in Korea Ahead of the Successful Hosting of the 31st APEC SME Ministerial Meeting

Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok calls for active participation and cooperation from APEC member economies

Participants reaffirm solidarity and policy collaboration on key SME challenges such as digital transformation

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), led by Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok, held a luncheon briefing with officials from APEC member economy embassies in Korea on Thursday, July 31, at the Government Complex in Seoul.

The APEC SME Ministerial Meeting is one of the sectoral ministerial meetings held annually under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), serving as a forum to discuss key issues facing MSMEs in the region since 1994.

[Briefing Overview]

Date/Time: Thursday, July 31, 2025, 12:00?13:30

Venue: 2nd floor, Government Complex Seoul

Participants: Ambassadors and senior diplomats from 6 APEC member economies in the Americas and Oceania*

* Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Peru

The purpose of the briefing was to share an overview of the upcoming 31st APEC SME Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to be held in Jeju this September, and to request active engagement and support from the respective governments for the successful hosting of the event.

(Event Details) September 1?5, 2025 ? Including the ministerial meeting, SME Tech & Innovation Fair, and a range of official and side events

Vice Minister Noh stated,

“The 31st APEC SME Ministerial Meeting marks a meaningful return of this event to Korea after 20 years, and it will serve as a vital forum for addressing the present and future of SMEs worldwide.”

He emphasized that

“Solidarity and policy exchange among APEC member economies is more important now than ever.”

Korea previously hosted the meeting in 2005 in Daegu, where over 2,000 participants from 21 member economies attended.

Vice Minister Noh also highlighted that

“SMEs are key drivers of sustainable growth and innovation in the global economy,”

adding that

“We hope this meeting will lay the groundwork for stronger, more practical cooperation among APEC economies.”

The upcoming Ministerial Meeting, themed “MSMEs as Engines of Sustainable and Inclusive Growth,” will focus on:

Innovative SME practices utilizing AI

Policy responses to demographic decline and climate change

Public-private and large-small enterprise collaboration to drive inclusive growth

In addition to the official meetings such as the Ministerial and Working Group sessions, 10 side events will be held under a unified platform, including:

“Challenge! K-Startup” opening ceremony

Global Venture Investment Summit

And other events promoting startup and SME collaboration

Vice Minister Noh concluded:

“Today’s briefing will help accelerate collaboration with APEC member economies,”

and pledged to

“continue engaging with other APEC embassies through further briefings and visits.”

Source: https://www.mss.go.kr/site/smba/ex/bbs/View.do?cbIdx=86&bcIdx=1060623&parentSeq=1060623