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.

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

He underscored that the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 will create opportunities for regional enterprises, industrial branches including SMEs, stressing that for the SMEs growth, priorities should be put in improving the investment climate and enhancing both regional and global competitive capacity building for the private sector.

Proposed goals and initiatives were discussed at the Dialogue 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 and internationalisation, enhancing policy and regulatory environment and promoting entrepreneurship and human capital development.

The dialogue was part of a series of consultation on the Post-2015 SME work programme draft. It drew representatives from ASEAN SME Agency, central banks, business associations, the private sector as well as dialogue partners from Japan, Germany, the US and research organisations.

On this occasion, ASEAN launched the publication entitled “Directory of Outstanding ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) 2015” which categorised over 800 SMEs into 12 priority integration sectors including agro-based/ processed food, automotive, transportation, logistics services, electrical and electronic equipment, e-ASEAN/ ICT, fisheries, healthcare, rubber-based, textile/apparel, tourism and wood-based products, among others.-VNA