The purpose of this report is to provide a profile of the state of SMEs in APEC. Wherever possible, it seeks to give an overview of the level of SME activity at three time points:

• from the outset of APEC in the early 1990s;
• just before the “Asian Crisis” in 1997; and
• the latest data available, which is generally about 1998, 1999 or 2000.

• Introduction and Objectives
• Executive Summary
• What is an SME? SME Definitions and Statistical Issues
• The Number of SMEs in APEC
• The Contribution of SMEs to the APEC Economy
• The Growth and Dynamics of SMEs in APEC
• SMEs and international activity; trade and FDI
• Progress in APEC SME policy areas
• Policy Priorities and Programs
• Program Budget Comparisons
• References
• Appendices