Group promotes development of SMEs in Asean

MANILA, Philippines - As part of its continuous effort to strengthen economic integration and financial cooperation in the region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has embarked on an undertaking that aims to promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and encourage the people to invest more on them.

 Headed by former Agrarian Reform Secretary Dr. Philip Juico, a team of case writers representing different ASEAN countries has started conducting case studies on the 19 successful SMEs in the region and came up with a compilation of their success stories.

 Juico, the brains behind the project, said that the case studies will focus on three priority sectors the region is known for, namely agro-processing, electronics and information and communications technology (ICT).

 “SMEs make up the vast majority of a country’s business and as such are undeniable keys to economic growth, job creation and competitive advantage,” Juico noted.

 The studies hope to achieve several goals like indentifying weaknesses and helping create interventions for SMEs, promote innovations in methods, ideas and tools to improve an SME’s effectiveness and support economic integration within the region.

 “We hope that these studies will become an invaluable resource for businessmen, SME owners, government, policy makers and the academe,” he said.

 While SMEs undoubtedly make up a large part of the world’s economy, Juico noted that far fewer studies about them are available compared to large and established conglomerates and multi-national companies.

 Since the Philippines is among the countries with strong ICT and electronics sectors, the country together with Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan will be the focus of the team when it comes to ICT and electronics.

 As for the agro-processing sector the team will study SMEs in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, Myanmar and Japan.

 The 19 SME success stories will be published and distributed for free in various schools, universities and government offices in the region to provide students, businessmen and policymakers, helpful data and information they will need to start and maintain an SME.

 Juico said the team is expected to finish the first draft of the study by Dec. 28 while the complete and final copy of the studies is expected to be released in the first half of 2013.

 Juico will be joined by other writers, namely July Nur for Myanmar; Steve Paterson for Cambodia; Prof. Benel Lagua for the Philippines; Derek Liew for Malaysia and Singapore; Drs. Semerdanta Puysaka and Rochelle Divinagracia for Indonesia; Manasori Suguira for Japan; Prof. Thaw Dar Htwe for Myanmar; Prof. Ngo Quy Nham for Vietnam; Dr. Phosy Chanhming for Laos; and Drs.. Arusa Chaovanalikit, Nussara Meesen, Jomphong Mongkanvanit for Thailand.

The project is being funded by the Japan-ASEAN integration fund.