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The official launching of ASEAN Access virtual event on 16 June 2021. Copyright: Photo : GIZ/Diella Dachlan

Screenshot of ASEAN ACCESS “Your Business Information Gateway to ASEAN and Beyond”, https://www.aseanaccess.com/. Copyright: GIZ

National consultation workshop to strengthen National SME Information Centre to Support the ASEAN SME Service Centre, Jakarta, July 2019. Copyright: GIZ

The information and support available to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as part of the ASEAN SMEs strategy for economic integration has been improved.

Improving access for SMEs in ASEAN to relevant information and networks, along with targeted capacity building programmes for internationalization, play a critical role in enhancing market access for SMEs in the region, both from a regional as well as an international perspective.

In close cooperation with the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME), the project is supporting the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for SME Development (SAPSMED) 2025 with a dual focus on improving market access and internationalisation of SMEs, as well as improving the policy and regulatory environment.

The project mainly assists in addressing the specific needs of SMEs within the context of the ASEAN Economic Community.

• With a holistic, multi-level approach in mind, the project works together with the members of the ACCMSME, as the lead Sectoral Body. The ACCMSME members are expected to connect stakeholders from the public and private sector in the ASEAN Member States (AMS).
• The project aims to strengthen the ASEAN SMEs Services Center for improving cross-border business development and National SMEs Information Centre within the framework of the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SMEs Development 2025, by implementing the following thematic fields:
  1. Improving the ASEAN SMEs Service Centre;
  2. Strengthening national SMEs information centres, and
  3. Promoting national SMEs services for internationalization.

SMEs  in ASEAN Member States that have the potential to internationalise their business operations.

Between August 2019- June 2021

• Together with the ACCMSME, the ASEAN SMEs project has reshaped the former online portal and re-branded it as ASEAN Access “Your Business Information Gateway to ASEAN and Beyond”. ASEAN Access was officially launched on 16 June 2021. The event brought together representatives of 10 ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Business Advisory Council, ACCMSME, and GIZ.
• In parallel to this regional portal, four national portals have been developed in Cambodia (KhmerSME), Indonesia (SMEsta), Myanmar (MSME), and Viet Nam supported by the project and will be linked to the ASEAN ACCESS portal.

• Factsheet – Strengthening Regional Structures for Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion in ASEAN (ASEAN SMEs)

ASEAN Access, Regional Platform Launch for Supporting SMEs Trade in the Region and Beyond

As part of the support the growth and development of  Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the region, 10 ASEAN Member States commissioned the virtual regional portal establishment, namely ASEAN Access, led by Thailand through the Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP). ASEAN Access aims to support SMEs by providing comprehensive information on business, trade, market entry and related training opportunities for SMEs in ASEAN and beyond

ASEAN Access “Your Business Information Gateway to ASEAN and beyond” was officially launched on 16 June 2021. The event brought together representatives of 10 ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Business Advisory Council, ACCMSME, and GIZ. For more information about the event, please visit ASEAN Secretariat website: ASEAN Access Launching event video and  and news.

In mid-July 2021, 582 users, including service providers, registered on the ASEAN Access. By end August 2021 feature of business matchmaking will be available at ASEAN Access. Meanwhile, the development of four national portals in Cambodia (KhmerSME), Indonesia (SMEsta), Myanmar (MSME), and Vietnam continues to progress and will be connected to ASEAN Access.

The GIZ ASEAN SMEs project receives funding from BMZ and implemented in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.