premise: "But an outward-looking approach is required to ensure their competitiveness and viability. That is why the Greek government proposed the mechanism, which has been accepted by the OECD's deputy general secretary," the minister said.
  The conference aims to identify cost effective mechanisms to remove barriers to market-access, and promote internationalization of the enterprises.
  Best-practice support programs put in place by governments, at both national and local levels to assist in dealing with the impediments, will be reviewed.
  The conference is part of the OECD Bologna Process on small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship policies. The Athens meeting follows an OECD ministerial conference in June 2004 in Istanbul, where ministers adopted a declaration pledging cooperative action in reducing barriers to access. The declaration also invited the OECD, working with countries and international organizations, to identify ways in which barriers could be lifted.
   What need to happen to ensure competitiveness and viability?
hypothesis: an outward-looking approach is required