Thailand will push a strategy to help promote micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that are friendly to the environment at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in Danang next week.

Thailand and Peru jointly drafted the Apec Strategy for Green, Sustainable and Innovative MSMEs which will serve as guidelines for promoting the growth of MSMEs in an eco-friendly way, director-general of Department of International Economic Affairs Arthayudh Srisamoot said.

The strategy is expected to be approved by Apec’s 21 members during the summit, he said. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will attend the meeting.

The pilot areas for the implementation include biomass and renewable energy, the construction business and eco-friendly buildings, tourism, the food industry and garments.

“Thailand appreciates the role of SMEs in driving the economy. Apec has prepared an Apec Cross-Border E-Commerce Facilitation Framework which will help businesses reach out to the global market more easily and link to the global supply chain,” he added.

The theme of this year’s Apec Summit is “Creating New Dynamism and Fostering a Shared Future”.

Key topics will be promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth; deepening regional economic integration; strengthening MSMEs’ competitiveness and innovation in the digital age and enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture in response to climate change.

Thailand will also promote its reform of the economic structure and development of human resources to cope with new challenges such as the Thailand 4.0 policy, the Eastern Economic Corridor and supporting farmers to follow the sufficiency economy philosophy introduced by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the director-general said.

During the summit, the premier will meet for talks his counterpart from Papua New Guinea, and Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam.

While the leader of Papua New Guinea, the next chair of Apec, is expected to discuss ideas for next year, Ms Lam is expected to discuss Hong Kong’s plans to set up an economic centre in Thailand, he said.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Commerce Minister Apiradee Tantraporn will also attend the summit during Nov 8-11.

Bilateral ministerial meetings between Thailand and Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and New Zealand are also likely.

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of Asean, there will also be an unofficial meeting between the members of Apec and Asean.

It would be a good chance for Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cambodia, which are currently not Apec members, to join the informal discussion with Apec members, he said. Following the Apec summit, Gen Prayut will attend the Asean summit on Nov 13 and 14.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump will make his first official visit to Asia from Nov 3-14, with stops in Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. He will attend the Apec Summit in Vietnam and later the US-Asean Summit in the Philippines.