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.