The acceleration of economic recovery and strengthening of long-term growth and prosperity in China and the other 20 members of APEC, the world's largest economic region, hinges on the development of the small- and medium enterprise sector, which is at its core.

This week, ministers from APEC economies gathered in Nanjing to create a more fertile environment for SMEs, which account for more than 97 percent of all businesses, employ more than half the workforce and account for 60 percent of gross domestic product across the region.

An important component of this effort is bolstering the ability of SMEs to take advantage of cross border business opportunities. Despite the size and importance of the sector, its share of exports in the Asia-Pacific region is still relatively low.