METI State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Koga Visits the Republic of Korea to Attend the APEC SME Ministerial Meeting

1. APEC SME Ministerial Meeting

In the APEC SME Ministerial Meeting, held on Friday, September 5, 2025, under the theme of sustainable and inclusive growth, participants discussed innovative growth through new technologies, sustainable growth driven by smart policies, and inclusive growth fostered by a stronger commitment to sustainability.

The Japanese side highlighted the importance of promoting Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) and establishing a platform for diverse individuals to interact. It also outlined EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which is currently underway, as well as an October EXPO event titled VOYAGE TO THE FUTURE—Japanese SMEs Tackle Social Issues for a Better Tomorrow. During the meeting, lively discussions explored the best ways to drive the development of SMEs and startups within the APEC region. In conclusion, the participants issued the 2025 APEC SME Ministerial Meeting Joint Statement as a summary of the discussions and adopted the Jeju Initiative on APEC Startup Alliance: Connecting APEC Startup Ecosystem, which aims to create a platform for sharing insights related to startups. (The APEC SME Ministerial Meeting, first advocated by the Government of Japan, marked its 31st anniversary this year.)

2. Exchange of views with H.E. Ms. Han Seongsook, Minister of SMEs and Startups of the ROK

On Friday, September 5, 2025, State Minister Koga exchanged views on the bilateral economic relationship with H.E. Ms. Han Seongsook, Minister of SMEs and Startups of the ROK. They touched on the Japan-ROK Summit Meeting held last month and confirmed that the two partner countries will cooperate to achieve mutually beneficial goals for the future. State Minister Koga expressed his gratitude to her for hosting the meeting, as well as his anticipation that the Jeju Initiative, initiated by the ROK at this meeting, will be a significant step.

3. Exchange of views with H.E. Mr. Maman Abdurrahman, Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises of the Republic of Indonesia

On the same day, State Minister Koga met with H.E. Mr. Maman Abdurrahman, Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises of the Republic of Indonesia, and exchanged views on bilateral cooperation between SMEs of the two countries. During their talks, they discussed the support provided to SMEs in Indonesia under its new administration that took office last year and explored ways to expand cooperation between the two nations.

Related Link

• 31st APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting Joint Statement; Jeju Initiative on APEC Startup Alliance: Connecting APEC Startup Ecosystem

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