Chinese Taipei and Thailand promote Local Innovation

On August 2nd 2019, Chinese Taipei and Thailand co-host "APEC Local Innovation Forum-Revitalize Local Development through the Networking of Innovation Ecosystem". The forum created a cross-border platform with experts sharing perspectives and mentoring local SMEs and women-led MSMEs to build local economic and networking assets.

Referring to the facts that labor population are continuously and profoundly migrating to cities, developments between local and urban area are gradually unbalanced, and the industrial developments are slowing down while facing challenges of transformation, Small and Medium Enterprise Administration (SMEA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, Chinese Taipei proposed the "APEC Local Innovation Ecosystem Initiative: Revitalization for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Future". Under the initiative, 4 local innovation serial events will be held to promote the building of local innovation ecosystem, strengthen industrial clusters, and boost local innovative development. Chinese Taipei implements the initiative and holds 4 Local Innovation Fora in cooperation with partner economies: the Philippines, Russia, and Thailand this year.

This forum is kicked off by Mr. Shee-Chien Lei, Director of Management Consulting Division, Small and Medium Enterprise Administration, and Mr. Suwanchai Lohawatanakul, Director General, Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion. In opening remarks, Mr. Lei pointed out that capital regions amass more than 26% of GDP in each economy, causing discrepancy in the development of local and urban areas. Therefore, Chinese Taipei proposed APEC Local Innovation Ecosystem Initiative: Revitalization for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Future with Thailand and other friendly partners and tries to narrow the gap of unbalanced development.

The forum focuses on the theme of Transforming Thai MSMEs in Food and Tourism Industry into Thailand's Economic Warriors, as well as Inclusive Approaches to Promote Local Innovation Ecosystem to Revitalize. In addition, the startups share experiences of best practices and receive comments from mentors in the showcase session, with the views to achieve goals of local sustainability and steady business growth, then eventually increase their global presence in the future.

Unbalanced development is a common issue that all members in Asia Pacific region are facing. Through profound endorsements of the APEC resources, a great platform for cross-sectoral communication and experience-exchange is provided to jointly search for strategies and accelerate developments of local industrial clusters. The initiative thus will not only achieve in-depth cooperation between Chinese Taipei and other APEC member economies, but also promote the dissemination of local innovation in partnership, with the final goal of creating an inclusive APEC ecosystem.

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For further details, or to arrange possible media interviews, please contact:
Ms. Pei-Ti Hu
Deputy Director General, Small and Medium Enterprise Administration, MOEA
bdhu@moea.gov.tw
02-2366-2202

Ms. Hsin-Yi Tseng
Section Chief, Policy Planning Division, Small and Medium Enterprise Administration, MOEA
02-2366-2251
thy@moea.gov.tw