Plans afoot to redesign ASEAN SME Academy to bolster businesses
ASEAN and the US-ASEAN Business Council have announced plans to redesign the ASEAN SME Academy, an ongoing e-learning platform for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in South-East Asia. This was announced by the ASEAN Secretariat in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Managed by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSME under the leadership of the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry, the academy features interactive online courses in finance, branding, marketing, trade, and technology to accelerate MSMEs’ growth and equip them for success in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The ASEAN SME Academy is a one-stop-shop for the region’s MSMEs, comprising up to 99 per cent of South-East Asia’s firms and employs a regional average of 85 per cent of its workforce,” said US-ASEAN Business Council president and chief executive officer, Ambassador Ted Osius. “The redesigned platform will be user-friendly, content-rich, and accessible in at least two key regional languages. We’re upgrading the academy to reach many more MSMEs and give them the tools to grow their businesses as the region emerges from the pandemic.”
Meanwhile, Philippines DTI-BSMED director Jerry Clavesillas said, “The core of the ASEAN SME Academy is a series of robust training materials from a variety of global companies and international organisations tailored for MSMEs in the region.” He added that strengthening the academy to improve accessibility and enhance the learning experience of the business community in the region will help expand inclusive economic growth. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, MSMEs in the region quickly discovered that they need to adapt to new ways of operating, adopt new proven business practices, and pursue opportunities for future growth. These businesses need innovative skills and training courses catered for MSMEs, with a focus on Covid-19 recovery through enhanced digital and traditional skills. “The US continues to proudly support the growth and expansion of MSMEs to benefit the region,” said Chargé d’Affaires of the US Mission to ASEAN Kate Rebholz.
