ASEAN focuses on SMEs development

A Public- Private Dialogue (PPD) on the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Development period 2016-2025 (Post-2015 SME vision) was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on November 25, according to the ASEAN Secretariat’s press release.
A Public- Private Dialogue (PPD) on the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan forsmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Development period 2016-2025(Post-2015 SME vision) was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on November 25,according to the ASEAN Secretariat’s press release.

At themeeting, Cambodian Minister of Industry and Handicraft hailed theholding of this dialogue which aims to gather feedback from privatesector on the future orientation of ASEAN master plan on SMEs post 2015.

Heunderscored that the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in2015 will create opportunities for regional enterprises, industrialbranches including SMEs, stressing that for the SMEs growth, prioritiesshould be put in improving the investment climate and enhancing bothregional and global competitive capacity building for the privatesector.

Proposed goals and initiatives were discussed at theDialogue under five key strategic goals of the Post-2015 Action Plan,which included promoting productivity, technology and innovation,increasing access to finance, enhancing market access andinternationalisation, enhancing policy and regulatory environment andpromoting entrepreneurship and human capital development.

Thedialogue was part of a series of consultation on the Post-2015 SME workprogramme draft. It drew representatives from ASEAN SME Agency, centralbanks, business associations, the private sector as well as dialoguepartners from Japan, Germany, the US and research organisations.

Onthis occasion, ASEAN launched the publication entitled “Directory ofOutstanding ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) 2015” whichcategorised over 800 SMEs into 12 priority integration sectors includingagro-based/ processed food, automotive, transportation, logisticsservices, electrical and electronic equipment, e-ASEAN/ ICT, fisheries,healthcare, rubber-based, textile/apparel, tourism and wood-basedproducts, among others.-VNA

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