ASEAN publishes strategic action plan for SME development

Source: ASEAN Secretariat.

The ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development (SAPSMED) 2016-2025 has been developed in recognition of the significant contribution of micro, small and medium-enterprises (MSMEs) to economic growth, employment generation and gender empowerment in ASEAN. The plan aims to strengthen MSME engagement in an increasingly competitive economic environment and to support their growth and development.

The plan includes an implementation roadmap using country champions, maximising resources including those from ASEAN Dialogue Partners, and with periodic monitoring and evaluation built-in. Overall MSME achievement will be tracked through 10 key policy indicators, and other operational indicators to be developed.

The plan was launched at the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Summit on 21 November 2015. It was developed by the ASEAN SME Working Group in consultation with the private sector and prepared with the cooperation of the AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee and with the assistance of the USAID ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment Project for the Roadmap.

Interested?

Download the ASEAN SAPSMED 2016-2025 report 

Malaysia's KUIMB to train entrepreneurs from NAAM

The Malaysian Indian Entrepreneurs Corporative (KUIMB) and New Affirmative Action Movement (NAAM) have agreed to collaborate on entrepreneurship development and training. At a signing ceremony at the TEC2020 event, NAAM agreed to provide 500 entrepreneurs to be trained, guided and developed by KUIMB for the year 2014 and another 500 for the year 2015.

Source: TEC2020. From left, Dhatchynamoorthy Ramasamy, TEC2020 Conference Committee Member; Mani Peter Xavier, NAAM Representative and TEC2020 Conference Committee Member; YB Datuk M. Saravanan, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports; Madhu Marimuthu, KUIMB Chairman; Girish Ramachandran, TEC2020 Conference Organising Chairman; and Sharman Arumugam, TEC2020 Conference Committee Member

KUIMB is an organisation aimed at raising the socio-economic status of its members, and provides training, creates business opportunities for members and helps with capital to venture into business.

NAAM was set up to economically empower Indians and increase Indian competitiveness by developing and creating a digital community and assisting with employment, employability and assimilation of Indians effectively into the mainstream community. It also promotes economic and business understanding among Indians.