On August 13, Li Junkai, Secretary-General of the ZGC Global High-Level Think Tank Alliance (ZGCTA) and Director of the Center for International and Regional Cooperation at the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology (BJAST), was invited to attend the APEC Workshop on “Facilitating Integration of Women-Led Creative MSMEs in International Markets” virtually, and delivered a thematic speech during Session 1: Policy and Trade Framework: How to Support Women-Led Creative MSMEs.

Event Scene

Hosted by the APEC Policy Partnership for Women and the Economy (PPWE), this workshop focused on core topics including the significant contribution of creative micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to economic growth and exports, the multifaceted roles of women entrepreneurs, digital channels as a key tool for business scaling, as well as key challenges in internationalization such as logistics, payment systems, market access and intellectual property protection. The event gathered representatives from government agencies, business support organizations, creative industries and relevant APEC fora to exchange experiences and develop actionable recommendations.

    Li Junkai delivered her speech entitled Creative MSMEs as Drivers of Growth: Unlocking the Potential of Women-Led Creative Enterprises in the Asia-Pacific Region. She pointed out that the creative economy is emerging as one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, yet its export potential remains far from fully unlocked, with a large number of creative products and services still lacking effective channels to access international markets. She systematically analyzed the three barriers of resource, capability and institution that women face in translating creative ideas into export outcomes, and proposed that policy and trade frameworks should deliver systematic support at three levels: capabilities building, market access and institutional environment. She emphasized that digital literacy should serve as a "passport" for exports, to bridge the "last mile" from creativity to export and build an inclusive policy and trade framework. Furthermore, she noted that creative MSMEs are the hidden engine of economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region, and women are the core driving force powering this engine. She expressed the expectation that all parties will work hand in hand through the APEC platform to ensure that women-led creative enterprises are not only participants but also leaders in regional trade.

    This event has further expanded ZGCTA’s exchange channels under the APEC framework, and enriched the ZGCTA’s cooperation practices in the fields of international women’s economic empowerment and digital inclusion. Going forward, ZGCTA will continue to leverage its strengths as a non-governmental multilateral exchange and cooperation platform, focus on areas such as scientific and technological innovation, digital economy and sustainable development, deepen regular exchanges with APEC member economies, pragmatically advance project matchmaking and resource sharing, and strive to enhance the effectiveness of international exchanges and cooperation.