US-ASEAN Business Alliance for Competitive SMEs Events

The Business Alliance has held more than 40 events since its inception, reaching more than 6000 entrepreneurs in all 10 ASEAN countries. These events aim to assist ASEAN SMEs to be more competitive, more internationalized, and able to be part of the global and regional value chains.

Use the Country filter to see events from specific countries.

“Innovation without Limits: Advancing Indonesian Entrepreneurs’ Competitiveness”

Location: Serpong, Indonesia

Date: October 3, 2019

Participants: 130 SMEs and tech entrepreneurs

Partner: The Center for Research Science and Technology, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education

Overview:

More than 100 Indonesian SME owners and executives and tech entrepreneurs from South Tangerang and neighboring cities participated in a half-day workshop titled, “Innovation without Limits: Advancing Indonesian Entrepreneurs’ Competitiveness”. The workshop was conducted in a close collaboration with the Center for Research Science and Technology (PUSPIPTEK), a unit under the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education.

The workshop was held in conjunction with PUSPIPTEK Innovation Festival Indonesia 2019, which aims to improve Indonesia’s national competitiveness in innovation and promote a society inclusive of research and technology. It also demonstrated U.S. private sector commitment to supporting the Indonesian government on promoting greater economic inclusivity and utilization of digital tools to participants.

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“Innovation for SMEs Go Online: Winning the Global Competition” Workshop, August 27

Location: Bali, Indonesia

Date : August 27, 2019

Participants : 100 SMEs

Member participants : Visa, Facebook and FedEx

Partner : The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises of Indonesia

Overview

Nearly 100 Indonesian SME owners and executives participated in a full-day workshop titled, “Innovation for SMEs Go-Online: Winning the Global Competition” in Bali on August 27. The workshop was conducted by the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) in close collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (CSMEs). Council’s members, Visa, Facebook and FedEx shared their expertise to maximize the benefits of adopting digital commerce platforms and highlighted best practices within their own firms. The workshop served further U.S. private sectors commitment in supporting Indonesia National Policy titled, “UMKM Go Online” or SMEs Go Online.

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“The Potential of Industry 4.0 for Malaysian SMEs”

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Date: July 22, 2019

Participants: 135 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Cisco, Visa, Mastercard, P&G and Google

Partners: The Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia

Overview

More than 135 owners and executives of Malaysian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from Kuala Lumpur and neighboring cities participated in a full-day workshop on titled “The Potential of Industry 4.0 for Malaysian SMEs”. The workshop was conducted in close collaboration with Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). The workshop served to further U.S. private sector commitment in supporting the Malaysian Government’s National Policy on Industry 4.0, or “Industry4WRD”, focused particularly on strengthening SMEs. During the workshop, Council members Cisco, Visa, Mastercard, Procter & Gamble and Google shared their expertise on promoting greater economic inclusivity and utilization of digital tools to the SME participants.

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Strengthening a Sustainable Tourism Model for SMEs in Digital Transformation

Location: Manila, Philippines

Date: May 3, 2019

Participants: 165 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Cisco, Marriott International, Coca Cola and Google

Partners: Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Trade and Training Center (PTTC), Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PHILEXPORT).

Overview

Around 165 owners and executives of travel and tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Manila and surrounding cities participated in a full-day workshop on May 3 titled, “Strengthening a Sustainable Tourism Model for SMEs in Digital Transformation”. Council members Cisco, Marriott International, Coca-Cola and Google shared their expertise on promoting greater economic inclusivity and utilization of digital tools to the Philippines SMEs. The workshop also hosted company-specific sessions, where SMEs were able to interact closely with companies’ representatives to consult and find solutions to their day-to-day entrepreneurial challenges. It also marked the second capacity-building workshop of the Council’s Travel and Tourism Committee in support of the travel and tourism ecosystem in the region.

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Digital Transformation to Boost Competitiveness

Location: Yangon, Myanmar

Date: December 10, 2018

Participants: 220 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Cisco, Facebook, and VISA

Partners: US ICT Council for Myanmar, Max Myanmar Holding Co., Ltd., Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), and Myanmar Young Entrepreneurs Association (MYEA)

Overview:

On December 10, more than 220 entrepreneurs from Yangon and neighboring cities participated in a one-day SME workshop entitled “Digital Transformation to Boost Competitiveness”. The workshop featured knowledge sharing sessions on SMEs digitization and access to regional e-commerce markets from government, local business chambers, as well as senior executives from Cisco, Facebook, Visa, and successful local SMEs.

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Elevating SMBs into Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Inclusive Global Value Chains

Location: Hai Phong, Vietnam

Date: November 21, 2018

Participants: 207 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Cisco, Coca-Cola, FedEx, Microsoft, and VISA

Partners: Hai Phong People's Committee and Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

Overview:

On November 21, more than 200 multi-industry Small and Medium-sized Business (SMBs) owners and executives from Hai Phong and neighboring cities participated in a one-day SMB workshop titled “Elevating SMBs into Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Inclusive Global Value Chains”.

The workshop provided SMBs with knowledge sharing sessions on the challenges and opportunities to become an integral part of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, Global Value Chains (GVC), and regional e-commerce markets. These sessions featured distinguished speakers from government and private sectors such the Prime Minister Economic Advisory Team (PMEAT), Viet Nam Customs, Hai Phong City People’s Committee, and senior executives from Cisco, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, FedEx, and VISA.

In addition, the workshop also hosted consultation booths by Cisco, FedEx, local start-ups and banks where SMB owners were able to consult directly about their day-to-day entrepreneurial challenges.

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SME Digital Transformation for the ASEAN Travel and Tourism Industry

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Date: September 25, 2018

Participants: 180 Tourism-related SMEs

Member Participants: Airbnb, Agoda, Cisco, Expedia, PayPal, and VISA

Partners: Thailand Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP), Tourism Council of Thailand and Thammasat University

Overview:

On September 25, more than 180 Thailand SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) owners and from the travel and tourism industry in Bangkok participated in a full-day workshop in Bangkok entitled “SME Digital Transformation for the ASEAN Travel and Tourism Industry”. The workshop served as an implementation activity following the Council’s Business Mission to the Twenty-First Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (21st M-ATM) in Chiang Mai last January and was conducted in close collaboration with the Thailand Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP), Tourism Council of Thailand and Thammasat University. It also marked the first capacity-building workshop of the Council’s newly established Travel and Tourism Committee in support of the travel and tourism ecosystem in the region.

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Trade Facilitation: Integrating SMBs into Inclusive Global Value Chains

Location: Can Tho, Viet Nam

Date: July 9, 2018

Participants: 250 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Cisco and Coca-Cola

Partners: Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

Overview:

Approximately 250 multi-industry Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) owners and executives from Can Tho and 13 neighboring Mekong Delta provinces participated in a one-day SMB workshop titled “Trade Facilitation: Integrating SMBs into Inclusive Global Value Chains”. The workshop is the implementation of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Council and VCCI.

SMBs were trained to become an integral part of global value chains and regional e-commerce by experts from Viet Nam’s Minister of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and General Department of Customs, as well as Council member companies such as Coca-Cola and Cisco. The trainings included socialization of Rules of Origin (ROO) under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the importance of logistics for trade facilitation, and the enabling technology to boost SMBs’ regional e-commerce participation.

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Empowering Philippines SMEs with Digital Tools and Mentorship Opportunities

Location: Manila, Philippines

Date: June 27, 2018

Participants: 204 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Booz Allen Hamilton, Cisco, FedEx, HP Inc., Procter & Gamble

Partners: Philippines Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines Trade and Training Center (PTTC), Philippines Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PHILEXPORT)

Overview

More than 200 owners and executives of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from Manila and surrounding cities participated in a one-day workshop entitled “Empowering Philippines SMEs with Digital Tools and Mentorship Opportunities". In conjunction with the United Nations (UN) International SME Day, the workshop was a joint initiative between the Council and the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Council member companies such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Cisco, FedEx, HP Inc., and Procter & Gamble shared their knowledge on improving the digital competitiveness of Philippines SMEs and introduced mentorship opportunities and services in doing e-commerce, including cross-border trade. The workshop also hosted company-specific clinic sessions, where SMEs were able to interact closely with companies’ representatives to consult and find solutions to their day-to-day entrepreneurial challenges. The workshop also marked the new partnership launch of ASEAN SME Academy, following the management transition under DTI with the support of the Council.

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Surabaya SMEs Go Digital and International

Location: Surabaya, Indonesia
Date: March 7, 2018
Participants: 223 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Cisco, PT HM Sampoerna Tbk., Facebook, FedEx, Google

Partners: Indonesia Ministry of Cooperative and SMEs, U.S. Consulate in Surabaya, The Employers' Association of Indonesia (APINDO), The Indonesian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), The Indonesia Young Entrepreneurs Union in Surabaya (HIPMI), and Ciputra University

Overview

On March 7, the Council kicked off its 2018 SME programming, with 223 East Java entrepreneurs participating in a one-day workshop entitled “Surabaya SMEs Go Digital and International,” co-organized by the Council, the Indonesia Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, and the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya.

Cisco, PT HM Sampoerna Tbk., Facebook, FedEx, and Google shared their expertise on SMEs’ usage of digital tools for increased competitiveness and global market participation. The workshop also hosted company-specific consultation sessions, where SMEs were able to interact closely with member companies to consult and find solutions to their day-to-day entrepreneurial challenges.

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