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ASEAN Access Stakeholders. Copyright: Photo: GIZ

ASEAN Access as the regional “one-stop business information gateway” assists SMEs in ASEAN to expand their market access and network for cross-border business within and beyond the region.

SMEs in ASEAN are more effectively utilising the support structures offered to promote their cross-border business activities.

ASEAN acknowledges the vital contributions of SMEs for economic recovery, resilience and connectivity. A competitive, more sustainable and digitally inclusive ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) relies on scaling the adoption of new technologies by and for SMEs to benefit from emerging business opportunities.

In cooperation with the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME), the project supports the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for SME Development (SAPSMED) 2025. The focus lies on improving the market access and internationalisation of SMEs (strategic goal C) and enhancing the policy and regulatory environment (strategic goal D).

Building on the experiences and networks of the predecessor project, ASEAN SME II applies a two-tiered approach that combines regional cooperation with country-specific assistance in selected ASEAN Member States (AMS).

Project activities concentrate on three thematic fields:

• Sustaining the regional SME portal “ASEAN Access”;
• Strengthening the national SME portals and support structures in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam, including cross-country business matchmakings; and
• Stimulating public-private dialogues on policy issues relevant to SME promotion and cross-border trade.

The project objective and support are closely aligned with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), which strives to boost the region’s competitiveness by narrowing intra-ASEAN development gaps. Moreover, in line with the Agenda 2030, the project directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 9 on Decent Work and Economic Growth as well as Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, respectively.

• Sustaining the regional SME portal “ASEAN Access”;
• Strengthening the national SME portals and support structures in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam, including cross-country business matchmakings; and
• Stimulating public-private dialogues on policy issues relevant to SME promotion and cross-border trade.

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

• Cross-border trade. At the core of the project lies the ASEAN Access online portal (www.aseanaccess.com), owned by the ten ASEAN Member States (AMS) and hosted in Thailand. As the regional “one-stop business information gateway”, the portal strives to meet the needs and ambitions of SMEs in ASEAN concerning cross-border trade.Activities such as market talks and cross-country business matchmaking sessions are hosted for free on the portal and made available to registered users. In a unique governance structure, government authorities and network partners from the private sector are brought together to jointly identify priority sectors and topics, thus stimulating public-private dialogues on relevant policy issues.
• National portals to improve SMEs competitiveness. The project facilitates support for the national SME portals to help increase the competitiveness of SMEs and prepare them for cross-border business. The national portals in Cambodia (KhmerSME), Indonesia (SMEsta), and Viet Nam are linking up with the ASEAN Access and its extended network. This includes promoting the readiness of SMEs in embracing new business models, for example on sustainable production and consumption.

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

The number of ASEAN Access users has continuously grown since the launch in 2021. Presently, over 2,900 members are registered and 47 network partners are connected.  Among the ASEAN Access members are the Women Entrepreneurs (WE), who have the potential to drive ASEAN economies towards more significant equity, resilience and competitiveness. In 2023,  six women business leaders from Cambodia, Malaysia,  the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam were appointed as ASEAN Access Ambassadors (AAA).

Their appointment reflects women’s importance as champions in the business community. They promote the benefits of engagement through the platform’s various features, such as ASEAN Access MATCH (for business matchmaking), while motivating and mobilizing more members from their respective networks.