32nd Asian Trade Promotion Forum CEO Meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

September 2019

On September 12 and 13, the 32nd Asian Trade Promotion Form (ATPF) CEO Meeting was held in Ulaanbaatar , Mongolia. The meeting was joined by 36 people from 16 countries and regions, and JETRO Chairman and CEO Nobuhiko Sasaki served as co-chair along with Chairman Amartuvshin Otgondavaa of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI).

A plenary meeting was held under the theme “The Role of Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) in Supporting SMEs to Internationalize and Connect to Value Chain.” In his opening speech, Mongolian Prime Minster Khurelsukh Ukhnaa expressed his hope that discussions at the ATPF will benefit SMEs active in Asia in the future.

Mr. Amartuvshin, who chaired the meeting, stated that "while the world has been changing through globalization and progress in information technology, SMEs do not always benefit from them due to issues related to finance and technical skills." In this regard, he clarified the need for TPOs to help SMEs in the midst of accelerated globalization.

Chairman Sasaki delivered a presentation under the title "The Role of TPOs in Supporting SMEs toward Global Markets." Touching on global trends, he introduced JETRO's support schemes and called for collaboration between TPOs.

At the plenary meeting, proposals for joint projects created in the Working Level Meeting (WLM) were discussed and all were formally approved. Going forward, the ATPF Secretariat (JETRO) will coordinate to work out details of the programs and present on progress at the next WLM and the CEO Meeting in 2020. In addition, knowledge was shared between the members at this year’s meeting through presentations on best practices by each TPO. Following the plenary meeting, all representatives made a courtesy call on Mongolian Foreign Minister, who gave them a direct explanation on Mongolia's trade situation and policies.

On the following day, participants took part in a tour of local industries and sites in the city of Ulaanbaatar. At the Gobi Cashmere Factory, their first stop, they learned about the process of making cashmere products, an important industry of Mongolia. Representatives watched with great interest as textiles were made from single thin threads before their eyes. At the next stop, the Ulaanbaatar Partnership-2019 International Trade Fair, the group browsed various products made in China, Russia and Belarus.

The Asian Trade Promotion Forum was established in 1987 at the advocacy of JETRO. Its aim is for Asian TPOs to effectively implement activities ineach member country and region and region through the free exchange of ideas. There are currently 23 members, and a Working-Level Meeting and CEO Meeting are each held once a year.