On August 1-2, 2012, St. Petersburg welcomed the 35th meeting of the APEC Working Group for Small and Medium Enterprises, which was immediately followed by the 19th meeting of the APEC Ministers for Small and Medium Enterprises issues on August, 2-3. Boris Tkachenko, Head of the IBLF Branch, Youth Business Russia Manager took part in organizers invitation arrangements.

At the Young Entrepreneurs Network session, Boris Tkachenko made presentation called “Importance of Engaging Young People in Entrepreneurship - Best International and Domestic Practices”. 

He based his presentation on the results of the research conducted by Youth Business International (YBI), International Young Entrepreneurs Network in 2011 and the YBI experience gained in 32 countries of the world. The main emphasis was put on the significance of non-financial support of the young people who start and develop their business.

The report stirred lively interest among the participants. At the end of the session representatives of Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore and Philippines approached Boris Tkachenko to discuss the existing and potential forms of cooperation.    

The general agenda of the event was focused on the following topics: internationalization and supporting of export-oriented Small and Medium Enterprises, advancement of innovative SMEs, support of small businesses at the start-up stage and development of youth entrepreneurship.

On the Russian side, the parties to the discussion were represented by Vitaly Melnikov, Deputy Director, Department for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and Competition, RF Ministry of Economic Development, Igor Korelsky, Head of International Cooperation Section, Department for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and Competition, RF Ministry of Economic Development, Igor Yegorov, St. Petersburg Office Director, US - Russia Center for Entrepreneurship, A. Perminov, Deputy Head of Administration of Chairman of Management Board, MSP Bank Open Joint-Stock Company, G. Belyaev, Executive Secretary, RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry Coordinating Committee for Development of Youth Entrepreneurship. The event was attended by observers from the ASEAN Secretariat, Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and Pacific Islands Forum, as well as the representative of the APEC Business Advisory Council.   

The 35-th meeting of the APEC Working Group was focused on the key issues hindering the development of youth entrepreneurship in Russia, ways to address these issues, projects and proposals within the framework of the Strategy for Developing Youth Entrepreneurship in Russia for the period until 2020.