[asia-apec 1088] Christchurch SME APEC Meeting

[Gatt Watchdog]

MEDIA RELEASE

23 April 1999

Enterprise and Commerce Minister announces final list of Ministers attending
APEC SME Ministers' meeting

Max Bradford today released details of the Ministers from the Asia-Pacific
region coming to New Zealand for the APEC SME (Small and Medium Enterprise)
Ministers' meeting.

The meeting is being held in Christchurch, April 26 - 28th. 

"I am pleased to announce the details of the following high-ranking
Ministers who will attend the Christchurch APEC SME (Small and Medium
Enterprise) Ministers' meeting," Mr Bradford said.

*	Abdul Rahman Taib: Brunei's Minister of Industry and Primary
Resources;

*	Walt Lastewka: Canada's Parliamentary Secretary for Industry
(Vice-Ministerial rank);

*	Gonzalo Rivas: The Chilean Executive Vice President of CORFU
(Chilean Production Development Corporation);

*	Francis Ho: Hong Kong's Director-General of Industry (Ministerial
equivalent);

*	Choo June-Suk: Korean Chief Administrator SME Administration;

*	Kamaruzzaman: Malaysia's Parliamentary Secretary for International
Trade and Industry (Vice-Ministerial rank); 

*	Decio de Maria: Mexico's Undersecretary for Industry and Trade
Promotion;

*	Hon Ian Ling-Stuckey: Papua New Guinea's Minister for Commerce and
Industry.

*	Javier Ramirez-Gaston: Peru's National Director of Industries; 

*	Tang Guan Seng: Singapore's Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Trade
and Industry (Vice-Ministerial rank);

*	HE Chih-Kang Wang: Chinese Taipei's Minister for Economic Affairs;

*	Suwat Liptapallop: Thailand's Minister for Industry;

*	Dr Le Dang Doanh: Vietnam's President of Central Institute for
Economic Management; 

*	Hon Hans Joachim Keil: Samoa's Minister for Trade.

Earlier this week Mr Bradford announced the attendance of the following six
Ministers;
 
*	Hon Tony Abbott: Australia's Minister for Employment Services;

*	Zheng Silin: Vice Chairman of China's State Economic and Trade
Commission;

*	Adi Sasono: Indonesia's Minister for Cooperatives, Small and Medium
Enterprises;

*	Sanzo Hosaka: Japan's State Secretary for International Trade and
Industry;

*	Andrei Shapovalyants: The Russia Federation's Minister for the
Economy;

*	Robert Mallett: United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Trade
and Industry;








Further details attached



Enquiries: Jeremy Kirk, press secretary (04) 471 9836 / 025 424 565



Background information on visiting Asia-Pacific Region Ministers

NB: Background is not available for all visiting Ministers

 
*	Abdul Rahman Taib: Brunei's Minister of Industry and Primary
Resources;
The Minister has served the Government of Brunei Darussalam since 1966.
Brunei's Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources was created in 1989
because of the Government's thrust for industrialisation and economic
diversification.  The Minister is also charged with the development of the
local industry and regional and international trade.  Prior to his current
role he served as Minister of Development and Minister of Education.     

*	Gonzalo Rivas: The Chilean Executive Vice President of CORFU
(Chilean Production Development Corporation);
Gonzalo Rivas was appointed Executive Vice President after the modernisation
of the CORFU council.  He has previously been the head of the Production
Development Division of the Economy Ministry and Executive Secretary of the
Interministerial Production Development Committee.
  
*	Hon Ian Ling-Stuckey: Papua New Guinea's Minister for Commerce and
Industry;
     He is also the Executive Chairman of the Monian Group which comprises 
     several PNG companies which deal with Property Development and 
     Management and Gaming Operations.  He is a member of the Pangu 
     Party and the special Minister appointed to assist the Prime Minister.

*	 Suwat Liptapallop: Thailand's Minister for Industry;
     He was appointed Minister in 1996.  Previous positions include Deputy

     Minister of Transport and Communications1990-1992 and Minister of  
     Science Technology and Environment in 1995.  He has also been the 
     General-Secretary to the Chatpatana Party.   

*	Mr Tang Guan Seng: Singapore's Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Trade and Industry;
     Mr Tang was appointed to his current role in January 1997.  He was MP  
     for the Khe Bong Constituency from 1984-1988 and the MP for Hougang 
     Constituency from 1988-1991.  He was Political Secretary to the Prime 
     Minister from 1991 to January 1997.   He has also been the co-chairman 
     of the Singapore-Shandong Business Council since 1993.
  
*	Hon Tony Abbott: Australia's Minister for Employment Services;
Mr Abbott was appointed in his current role in October last year.
Previously he had been the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for
Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs from March 1996 - October
1998.  

*	Zheng Silin: Vice Chairman of China's State Economic and Trade
Commission;
Zheng Silin is an ex-Governor of the Jiangsu province.  He has also been a
Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation.  In
his current role he has been heavily involved in the reform of State Owned
Enterprises.

*	Adi Sasono: Indonesia's Minister for Cooperatives, Small and Medium
Enterprises;
Adi Sasono was appointed a Minister last year.  In 1985 he was appointed
Secretary General of the Society for Improving Small Entrepreneurs.  In 1988
he became the secretary of the Indonesian Agrobusiness Foundation and in
1993 was made an advisor to the Indonesian Cooperative Council.   He still
holds all these positions.

*	Sanzo Hosaka: Japan's State Secretary for International Trade and
Industry;
Sanzo Hosaka was appointed a State Secretary in 1998. He has been involved
in politics since 1971 when he was first elected to the Taito City Assembly.
He was first elected to the House of Councillors in 1995.  Other roles
include; Director of the Taito City District Branch of the Liberal
Democratic Party and Chairman of Tokyo Automobile Chamber of Commerce. 

*	Andrei Shapovalyants: The Russia Federation's Minister for the
Economy;
Andrei Shapovalyants served as Deputy Russian Economics and Finance
Minister, First Deputy Economics Minister, and Acting Economics Minister
before being appointment Minister for the Economy.

*	Robert Mallett: United State's Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Trade
     and Industry;   
     Mr Mallett was appointed as Deputy Secretary in September 1997.  He 
     plays a lead role in promoting full market access for American
companies
     in countries around the globe. He is also responsible for the
day-to-day 
     operations of a very diversified cabinet-level Department within which 
     there are nine agencies with collectively 40,000 employees. 

ENDS