Output1) Industry Monitoring Reports (Reports)Two APEC Industry Monitoring Reports (approximately 15 pages each) will be developed to assess the implementation of the modernized APEC Kuala Lumpur and Mexico City Principles. Targeting 100 associations representing over 18,000 enterprises (including 13,000 MSMEs), these reports will evaluate code governance, member enterprise implementation, and key trends, thereby serving as a synthesis of the current status. They will also offer strategic recommendations to strengthen ethical business practices, informed by industry progress and challenges. The reports will serve as the Forum's Summary Report and be disseminated through the Initiative’s websites (klprinciples.apec.org and mcprinciples.apec.org) and database, reaching over 2,000 stakeholders. The SMEWG reviewed and agreed to continue these established satellite websites in 2024.
2) 2025 Business Ethics for SMEs Forum (Forum)The 2025 APEC Business Ethics for SMEs Forum will be held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on 8-9 September 2025, bringing together an estimated 200 experts and participants, including health industry associations representing SMEs. As a cornerstone event of the Business Ethics for APEC SMEs Initiative, the Forum advances ethical business practices as a driver of sustainable growth, innovation, and consumer trust across APEC economies. Since its inception in 2011, the Initiative has championed ethics as fundamental to strong economies, resilient health systems, and continuous innovation, with capacity building at the core of its activities. The annual Forum, held since 2014, has served as a key platform for strengthening ethical business conduct through cross- sector engagement, the sharing of practical tools, and peer-driven learning. The 2025 Forum, aligned with the Initiative’s Vision 2025 roadmap, will cover four thematic areas, detailed below. Each area includes capacity-building sessions with pre-developed curricula led by expert facilitators to provide strategic insights and solutions for participants to integrate into their organizations.
1) Ethics as a Business Enabler: This segment will reaffirm the fundamental value of business ethics as a driver of sustainable business growth and competitive advantage, especially for SMEs. Experts will share research-driven insights on the economic and strategic benefits of ethical business practices, complemented by remarks from senior leaders on ethics in business sustainability and a panel discussion on integrating ethics into business models. Participants will take part in small group exercises designed to develop skills in communicating the significance of ethical business practices and translating research into actionable insights.
2) Building Trust through Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: This segment will emphasize multi-stakeholder collaboration in business ethics, reinforcing systems that uphold ethical standards as a competitive advantage across industries. It will highlight the International Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration and APEC economy-level frameworks while showcasing successful policy integration that strengthens trade, investment, and healthcare outcomes. To advance these efforts, delegates will engage in capacity-building activities, including best practice exchanges across economies and economy-specific, peer-driven problem- solving exercises aimed at improving consensus framework implementation. This segment will also include a learning session focused on new provisions in the International Consensus Framework.
3) Strengthening Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) for Continued Impact: This segment will focus on equipping participants with the tools and strategies to strengthen their capacity to engage in the Initiative’s M&E efforts. It will begin with a presentation outlining plans to expand M&E efforts, including the Industry Monitoring Reports in 2026, followed by a town hall-style forum and small group discussions where participants can shape the Initiative’s approach to accountability and explore practical ways to enhance their own M&E capabilities.
4) Establishing Our Future Vision: Building on the successes of previous Initiative roadmaps, including the Nanjing Declaration (2014) and Vision 2025 (2020), this segment will review the progress achieved since 2011 and offer practical tools for implementing the forthcoming roadmap.
Participant evaluation surveys will be provided during and after the event to capture feedback for continuous improvement in the Initiative’s future capacity-building activities.
3) 2025-2030 Guiding Document for Initiative Activities (Guiding Document)The 2025-2030 Guiding Document for Initiative Activities will serve as the strategic roadmap for enhancing ethical business practices among SMEs in health-related sectors within the APEC region. Building on the foundation of Vision 2025, which was endorsed by APEC SME Ministers in October 2020, this document will outline key milestones and objectives to ensure the health sector upholds integrity by leveraging best practices, fostering partnerships with governments, and engaging in multi-stakeholder collaboration. The document is expected to be approximately 5-10 pages long and will include an Executive Summary that provides a concise overview of its purpose, key milestones, and strategic objectives for the 2025-2030 period. Feedback will be incorporated from the Forum. This document will be submitted to the SMEWG for endorsement, but it is not intended to be an APEC publication.
Outcome1) Forum participants will gain the knowledge and skills needed to adopt and implement ethical business practices across health-related sectors. This will lead to a more transparent, accountable, and ethical business environment throughout the APEC region.
2) The expansion of cross-sector networks among stakeholders will facilitate ongoing collaboration and collective action. This will result in a more unified and effective regional approach to addressing ethical challenges, fostering a culture of integrity and ethical conduct across APEC economies.
Beneficiaries(1) [Primary Beneficiary] Medical technology and biopharmaceutical industry associations in the APEC region
(2) [Secondary Beneficiary] SMEs in the medical and biopharmaceutical industries in the APEC region
(3) [Secondary Beneficiary] Government officials from APEC economies focused on advancing ethical business practices, such as those highlighted in the Government Strategies to Encourage Ethical Business Conduct related to convening power, procurement, enforcement recognition and incentives, training, and trade agreements.
(4) [Secondary Beneficiary] Healthcare professional organizations, such as physicians, pharmacists, and nurses, through the development and adoption of consensus frameworks for ethical collaboration with diverse healthcare system stakeholders, including industry associations and SMEs across the APEC region.
(5) [Secondary Beneficiary] Patients and patient organizations through meaningful engagement and guidance on patient and patient organization interactions with industry, including SMEs, to reflect the latest high standards of ethical business conduct and encouraging the role of patients and patient organizations in building the capacity of SMEs to adhere to high standard ethical business practices.
(6) [Secondary Beneficiary] Civil society and academia through engagement with industry and government stakeholders to address shared challenges related to business ethics issues.
Some representatives of secondary beneficiary groups are expected to actively participate in the 2025 APEC Business Ethics for SMEs Forum.
