An international workshop on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and technology business incubators (TBI), Indonesia from June 17-18 has intensified connectivity among SMEs and IBTs in the region.
According to Wayan Dipta, Deputy Minister for the Ministry of SMEs and Cooperatives of Indonesia, the event was part of a project to strengthen SME and TBI capacity and provided effective and efficient support for SME and TBI development in each member country.
On the occasion, the Deputy Minister also launched the ASEAN Business Incubator Network, an important platform to further collaborate and exchange information to encourage and support ‘technopreneurship’ in the region.
Subash Bose Pillai, Director of the Market Integration Directorate of the ASEAN Secretariat, emphasised the importance of well-informed and knowledgeable incubation centres.
The workshop helps build the confidence of those operating the incubation centres by equipping them with knowledge to help overcome shortcomings faced by SMEs by strategically addressing them so that the SME community survives the early stage of development and thereafter, he said.
Takako Ito, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of the Japanese Mission to ASEAN introduced Japan’s policies to encourage and support the development of SMEs.
She recognised the importance of SMEs to economic growth and reiterated Japan’s continued support to SMEs in ASEAN.
The workshop also deliberated on possible future programmes of the network including an ASEAN Co-Incubation Programme, ASEAN network of mentors and experts for Incubation, the establishment of a database to share success stories and promote technology transfers, and an ASEAN business matching and business plan competition.
Nearly 30 TBIs in ASEAN have indicated their interest to join the ASEAN Business Incubator Network.
The workshop was attended by representatives of ASEAN SME agencies, incubation centres, venture capital and incubation experts from ASEAN and Japan.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) includes Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.-VNA
According to Wayan Dipta, Deputy Minister for the Ministry of SMEs and Cooperatives of Indonesia, the event was part of a project to strengthen SME and TBI capacity and provided effective and efficient support for SME and TBI development in each member country.
On the occasion, the Deputy Minister also launched the ASEAN Business Incubator Network, an important platform to further collaborate and exchange information to encourage and support ‘technopreneurship’ in the region.
Subash Bose Pillai, Director of the Market Integration Directorate of the ASEAN Secretariat, emphasised the importance of well-informed and knowledgeable incubation centres.
The workshop helps build the confidence of those operating the incubation centres by equipping them with knowledge to help overcome shortcomings faced by SMEs by strategically addressing them so that the SME community survives the early stage of development and thereafter, he said.
Takako Ito, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of the Japanese Mission to ASEAN introduced Japan’s policies to encourage and support the development of SMEs.
She recognised the importance of SMEs to economic growth and reiterated Japan’s continued support to SMEs in ASEAN.
The workshop also deliberated on possible future programmes of the network including an ASEAN Co-Incubation Programme, ASEAN network of mentors and experts for Incubation, the establishment of a database to share success stories and promote technology transfers, and an ASEAN business matching and business plan competition.
Nearly 30 TBIs in ASEAN have indicated their interest to join the ASEAN Business Incubator Network.
The workshop was attended by representatives of ASEAN SME agencies, incubation centres, venture capital and incubation experts from ASEAN and Japan.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) includes Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.-VNA
