By KOH HUI THENG

SMALL and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here want more support for overseas expansion during the downturn, and next week's series of meetings by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) delegates may just give them a much-needed helping hand.

Chief executive of the Singapore Business Federation and chairman of the Apec Business Advisory Council 2009 Teng Theng Dar, 58, told my paper: 'Singapore has various free-trade agreements with different economies that can be confusing for SMEs to understand.

'Apec can help by facilitating a business-friendly environment... which (makes) it easier for SMEs to trade and invest across borders.'

Mr Andy Toh, founder of watch company 25 Hours, hopes to see more interaction among businesses.

Said the 47-year-old: 'Maybe there'll be more ground-level trade exchanges between the SMEs in various countries, so we can learn from one another's experiences.'

He is also hoping to see more initiatives like Get Singapore, a joint marketing effort by Spring Singapore and the retail industry to showcase Singapore brands to global markets.

Mr Ryan Lee, 32, chief executive of portable sound-systems maker XMI, is concerned about trade protectionism.

'I hope the uncertain economic climate won't lead to countries promoting their own brands at the expense of foreign ones,' he said.

Their concerns - and more - will be debated by over 200 ministers and senior officials in the 21-member Apec grouping, of which Singapore is a member.

The participants will present findings from the meetings, which begin on Saturday at the Shangri-La Hotel, at the Apec Leaders' Week in November.

Spring Singapore chief executive Png Cheong Boon said yesterday: 'We want to get a sincere commitment from Apec economies to uphold free trade.'

SMEs here hire 1.7 million workers, or 60 per cent of the workforce.

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