APEC Ministerial Meeting on Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises
September 18-19, 1997, MontrÈal, QuÈbec (Canada)

Challenges faced by Canadian youth

 

"The main challenges faced by Canadian youth wanting to get involved in business in the Asia Pacific are in the areas of:

1. Knowledge: especially regional or country-specific knowledge (including political, economic and cultural knowledge).

2. Skills: general skills not specific to our issues, as well as specific skills; work experience of particular use (e.g. with companies or organizations involved in Asia Pacific); language skills, industry/sector-specific skills.

3. Information: about business and work opportunities; about programs, policies, etc; regular information about current events and economic developments in Asia Pacific.

4. Attitude/Understanding: Euro-centric biases in Canadian education, media, politics - cultural differences between Canada and different countries in the region and among those countries.

5. Money/Costs: costs of participating in study/work abroad programs, in information events, etc., are often prohibitive and exclude many young people from getting involved as well as the cost of education, travel, internet access, etc.

6. Credibility: problems for young Canadians re. getting directly involved in business in the regions (i.e. not through a North American organization or company); recognition of Canadian education, training, and work experience abroad.

7. Contacts and Long-Term Links

In addition, there may be other challenges or concerns for Canadian youth for us to discuss, such as: the impact of unsustainable economic development in the region (including in Canada); issues Canadians care about (human rights, gender equity, child labour, poverty, to name a few); immigration from the region (Canadian immigration policy vis-a-vis the Asia Pacific)."

(Marcus Pistor, youth delegate, Trade Ministerial Meeting)