APEC Consumer Education and Protection Initiative
(CEPI): The overall objective of the Consumer Education and Protection Initiative is to facilitate SME growth and contribute to economic stability, revitalization, and long term growth in APEC economies. CEPI endeavors to do so through “capacity building.” A key focus of CEPI is promoting enhanced skills development for new entrepreneurs and expanding consumer confidence through consumer education. The initiative uses conferences, workshops, publications, and other programs to educate consumers, businesses, and government officials on a range of consumer protection issues such as: consumer rights and responsibilities; fraudulent business practices; developing a consumer friendly regulatory environments; consumer re-dress options; and meeting the challenges presented by advances in technology. The programs are tailored to match the specific needs of the various APEC economies. Ultimately the initiative will provide an environment that supports active micro-enterprise development, which is critical for the region’s long-term economic well being.
CEPI’s “capacity building” efforts complement ongoing work within the SME PLG as well as of other APEC fora, including the HRD working group. The initiative overlaps with the ongoing work on several projects to promote entrepreneurship and SME development. Further, CEPI responds to the recommendations of the private sector voiced through ABAC to encourage micro-enterprise development and address consumer protection and education issues. The initiative has been private sector driven from the onset, via the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations and Direct Selling Associations in various APEC member economies. Consumer protection and education and their link to small business development were identified by the private sector as key issues to be addressed in APEC. Consumer protection organizations, local direct selling associations, and academia work closely with government officials to develop economy-specific CEPI programs.
The APEC CEPI program was launched in 1998 and formally endorsed by the APEC SME Ministerial at the April 1999 meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand. The APEC CEPI is a public-private partnership between APEC economies and business. Programs and follow-up programs have been launched in Thailand (1999-present), Philippines (2000-present), Malaysia (2001-present), Russia (2000-present), Mexico (2002-present) and Korea (2005-present). The follow-up programs are planned in Vietnam (2007) and Peru (2008).