The principal objective of the program was to develop recommended best practice principles for a regulatory framework, which would enhance access to financial services for MSMEs and could be submitted to APEC Finance Ministers for consideration. Related aims were to provide capacity building for regional regulators and policy makers and a forum for participants to share experiences in their economies and enhance their understanding of relevant issues.
This well attended Program was held in two parts in 2011 and 2012. The first part was a two-day Regional Symposium in Manila, Philippines in June 2011 attended by more than 30 participants. The second was an intensive five-day capacity building course held in Melbourne, Australia in March 2012. A wide range of participants attended the program from the following APEC economies: Indonesia, New Zealand, Mexico, Peru, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea, and from non-APEC economies: India, Bangladesh, Fiji and Vanuatu.
Ros was the Academic Coordinator for the Program. She also helped deliver the course content, together with a faculty of highly experienced presenters and panellists from Australian and regional policy and regulatory agencies, international standard setting bodies, and academia and the finance industry. Ros was also a lead author of the reports of the two part Program.