Trade Minister Mark Vaile today announced that Australia would provide $A190,000 to conduct 12 e-commerce awareness seminars for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) in four developing APEC economies.

Mr Vaile, in Shanghai for the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, said the Asia Oceania Electronic Marketplace Association would present the seminars in China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam between August and December.

"These seminars will make an important contribution to bridging the digital divide by encouraging the wide-scale adoption of e-commerce as a business tool," Mr Vaile said. 

"The wider use of e-commerce by our regional trading partners will assist Australian exporters and key members of supply chains to respond to new market opportunities."

This announcement builds on the decision by APEC Leaders in Brunei last November to develop an Action Agenda for the New Economy and is a follow up to the success of the APEC High Level E-commerce and Paperless Trading Seminar co-hosted by China and Australia in February.

"The new economy offers APEC economies unprecedented opportunities for economic growth, employment and higher living standards," Mr Vaile said.

"My aim is to ensure that Australian companies take advantage of the expanded international trade and investment opportunities from e-commerce."

Funding for the seminars has been provided through the APEC Support Program managed by AusAID. The program, established in 1995, supports the capability of developing countries in APEC to facilitate increased trade and investment.

Contact: James Baker (Ministerial) 0011 86 139 1666 0471