Deepening the Value of Business Ethics for APEC SMEs: How Ethics Builds Trust, Drives Trade, and Fuels SME Growth Across APEC Economies
| Published Date | June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Type of Publication | Reports |
| Publication Under | SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE), Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG) |
| Accessed | 9 |
| Pages | 22 |
| Download publication | Download |
Description
Deepening the Value of Business Ethics for APEC SMEs offers insights into specific components of ethical maturity that deliver the most economic value for SMEs, including employee training, conflict of interest policies, due diligence on business partners, and regulatory compliance. The findings show that ethical business practices help SMEs earn trust, strengthen reputations, access new markets, and form lasting partnerships with multinational corporations. The report also highlights the important role of industry associations in supporting SMEs through shared ethical standards and resources. By validating and expanding on previous research, the findings confirm that business ethics is not just about compliance, but is a practical, strategic approach to growth, resilience, and long-term success in the health sector.