
ASEAN and its partners officially launched the ASEAN SME Policy Index 2024 on 20 September in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The event gathered key stakeholders for a policy dialogue, discussing the report’s findings and charting the future of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) policies in the region.
With this third edition of the index, ASEAN is advancing its efforts to shape policies that support MSMEs, promoting innovation, productivity, and sustainability. The index assesses MSME policies across eight key areas—such as productivity, access to finance, and environmental sustainability—while offering tailored, country-specific recommendations for further reform.
The Policy Dialogue focused on presenting the regional results and findings, updating participants on the progress since the 2018 edition, and exploring how emerging trends may shape the post-2025 MSME sectoral plan, including the impacts of digitalisation and greening on future MSME-related policies.
Key takeaways:
- SME policies across ASEAN have improved, creating a stronger foundation for growth.
- Green and digitalisation of SMEs are emerging trends. However, challenges remain, including in cybersecurity, supply chains, and climate change impacts.
- Better data collection and analysis are needed to guide policies and strategies.
- SMEs should adopt greener practices and engage in public-private policy dialogues.
- Improving SMEs’ financial access is crucial for their growth.
- Expanding regional cooperation will drive SME resilience and innovation across ASEAN.
This index results from a two-year collaborative project between the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSME (ACCMSME) and the development organisations. It highlights ASEAN’s collective efforts to foster MSME growth and resilience.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce organised the event through its MSME Promotion Agency (MSMEPA) in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat’s Enterprise and Stakeholders Engagement Division, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
This work was made possible with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by GIZ through the ASEAN SME II project, and the Government of Ireland.
Link to Further Materials
- ASEAN SME Policy Index 2024: ASEAN Advances SME Policy Frameworks Amid Global Challenges – ASEAN Main Portal
- Download the report: https://www.eria.org/uploads/ASPI_2024-Full_report-upload-25Sep.pdf
Contact Person
Name: Sita Zimpel Email: sita.zimpel@giz.de Position: Principal AdvisorProject: Strengthening Regional Structures for Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion in the ASEAN Region (ASEAN SME II)
Key Buzzwords
#ASEAN #SME #Policy #ASPI2024