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The recently launch ASEAN Access MATCH is a platform for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Southeast Asia region to find relevant businesses cross-border, to access new market opportunities while showcasing their products or technologies in a timely and cost-efficient way.

To contribute to the growth of regional economic and increased trade within the region and beyond, the ten ASEAN Member States (AMS) continue to develop the ASEAN Access as the regional one-stop business information gateway.  Led by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME), 10 Member States jointly launched ASEAN Access MATCH on Tuesday, 25 January 2022.

ASEAN Access MATCH offers opportunities for SMEs in ASEAN to experience the virtual cross-border business matching and participate in market access events in front of their computer, anywhere, free of charge. This way, MATCH will make business matchmaking accessible for everyone.  As a business network platform, MATCH connects regional and national networks to support SMEs internationalisation.

ASEAN Access is not only a platform but also the largest SMEs network in ASEAN, which is growing weekly. In addition to organizations such as young/women entrepreneur associations, chambers and industry federations, there are also intergovernmental network partners such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). The network currently includes 40 network partner organizations and they are the driving engine behind the ASEAN Access activities.

To be able to participate in virtual matchmaking and market information events, users need to register with ASEAN Access. For more information, please visit https://www.aseanaccess.com/.

Digital Connectivity to support SMEs Internationalisation in the Region
ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) recognizes digital connectivity as one of the key priorities for promoting regional connectivity and economic recovery. To further promote inclusive, open, free fair trade and market access and coordinated pandemic response effort for regional economic recovery, the ASEAN Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) entered into force in January 2022.

Speaking at the ASEAN Access MATCH launch, the Representatives of ACCMSME, the Office of SMEs Promotion Thailand (OSMEP), ASEAN Economic Community, GIZ Thailand country office, Singaporean Manufacturing Federation  ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Indonesia, expressed appreciation and wish MATCH paves its way forward as regional digital tools for business collaboration and networking.

“The value proposition of the digital platform lies in the strategic partnership, diverse businesses, and market relevance of services which are required by SMEs. ASEAN Access will be one of the regional priorities for this year, as a joint effort to stimulate regional economic recovery” said Mr Satvinder Singh,  Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community in his welcoming remark. Mr Sigh urged the business community to explore the platform to reap advantages from MATCH facilities and its ability to generate a regional network to promote SMEs’ internationalisation.

Resonating with the message, Dato’ Suriani binti Dato’ Ahmad, Chair of ACCMSME and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives of Malaysia, asserted that ASEAN Access will contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016-2025 for enhancing SMEs in the region and globally.

Soon after the launch, several events in different sectors have been planned by network partners using MATCH platform. The development of ASEAN Access and MATCH platforms has been initiated by ACCMSME and managed by OSMEP, Thailand, in close cooperation with National Focal Points and Network Partners from the ASEAN Member States, consisting of both public and private sector actors. The initiative receives support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ ASEAN SMEs project.

Supporting SMEs on the national level, three national portals in Cambodia (KhmerSME), Indonesia (SMEsta) and Viet Nam  (Business Portal) have been launched in 2021 and Myanmar national portal (MSME)  in February 2022. These portals are also connected ASEAN Access, to further tie together national and regional business support activities.

Name and contact person:
Yacinta Esti Wulan Wahyu Jati, Technical Advisor ASEAN SMEs
Email:  y.jati@giz.de

Key buzzwords / “tags”
Business, matchmaking, aseanaccess, digitalization, asean