20 Nov 2015
21-Nov-2015
Source: ASEAN Secretariat News
ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016-2025
ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016-2025
on Saturday, 21 November 2015. Posted in 2015, ASEAN Secretariat News
JAKARTA, 21 November 2015 - As a significant contributor to the economic growth, employment generation and gender empowerment in ASEAN, the micro, small and medium-enterprises (MSMEs) of ASEAN are increasingly becoming an important force in ASEAN economic integration.
Their development and progress are important to ASEAN as MSMEs are active in multiple spheres of economic activity and are in a unique position as well as have a crucial role in helping ASEAN meet the goal of equitable economic development due to their wide reach and diversity.
ASEAN MSMEs face a number of challenges in terms of access to finance, technology, and competitive markets. ASEAN Member States are increasingly addressing these challenges and assisting the MSMEs in mitigating these issues.
The ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development (SAPSMED) 2016-2025 serves to strengthen MSMEs engagement in an increasingly competitive economic environment and to support their growth and development through the vision of a "Globally Competitive and Innovative SMEs" and that by 2025, ASEAN shall create more globally competitive and resilient SMEs.
It is recognised that the full and effective implementation of the Plan will be key to the achievement of the goals. To this end, the Plan envisages a distinctive approach of an Implementation Roadmap, using country champions, maximising resources including those from ASEAN Dialogue Partners and conducting periodic monitoring and evaluation of the Plan. The overall MSME achievement will be tracked through a set of 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. The Plan was 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.
The full report of ASEAN SAPSMED 2016-2025 can be downloaded at:
http://www.asean.org/communities/asean-economic-community/category/small-and-medium-enterprises