Apec Summit Reaction Paper

Noelie Christy Catolin BSSE 4

APEC SME SUMMIT 2015

"INNOVATION AND BIG IDEAS: PUSHING BOUNDARIES"

Through Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) with the theme: “Building Inclusive Economic, Building a Better World”, with Philippines as the host of said event, held this year’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Summit 2015 with the theme: “Innovation and Big Ideas: Pushing Boundaries” at Green Sun Hotel, Makati last Tuesday, November 15, 2015.

With our fast economic growth, His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III proudly led the opening of the first APEC SME Summit 2015. Many have attended including managers, founders and CEO’s of many companies and organizations, not only here in the country but also abroad. Successful professionals and businessmen in their own field served as speakers during the summit. Some of them are Sheila Marcelo – CARE.COM CEO and Founder, Angelo Umali – Simple Wearables CEO and Founder, Maria Ressa - Rappler.com CEO and Executive Editor,Dexter Gordon – Kalibrr, Inc. Co-Founder and COO, Alok Shetty – Architect of Bhumiputra Architecture, Josette Sheeran – Asia Society President And CEO, David Plouffe – UBER Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategy and Tony Fernandes – Air Asia CEO. Few of them were also interviewed by Karen Davila – TV Patrol News Anchor about their struggles and inspiration in pursuing entrepreneurship and sentiments on SME’s and its effects in the Filipino community.

To extend audience of the summit, a livestreaming hosted by Rappler.com was spectated by the students from different schools and universities all over the country, with Central Philippine University as one of them, from 8: 00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the same day. Through this livestreaming, students’ awareness to the country’s economy increase and ideas for a good start-up business in SMEs have been created. Students, the future of our country, should be more active in participating in these kinds of events in order to greatly contribute....