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.

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Elevating Vietnamese SMBs to the Fourth Industrial Revolution World

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Date: October 23, 2017
Participants: 207 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Coca-Cola, FedEx, Google, Mastercard, Microsoft, Cisco, and Kimberly-Clark

Partners: Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

Overview

On October 23, 207 owners and senior executives from Vietnamese Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs) participated in an SMBs Symposium entitled “Elevating Vietnamese SMBs to the Fourth Industrial Revolution World”. Building upon three successful SMB workshops in Vietnam throughout 2017, the symposium is part of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in 2016.

US-ABC member companies such as Coca-Cola, FedEx, Google, Mastercard, Microsoft, Cisco, and Kimberly-Clark shared their expertise on optimizing the potential of Vietnamese SMBs in face of the Fourth Industrial Revolution World (Industry 4.0) over three panel discussions alongside representatives from VCCI, Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC), and Vietnamese local start-ups. These discussions focus on the most crucial issues faced by SMBs, such as participation in global value chains, utilization of e-commerce and digital tools, and solutions to overcome financial obstacles.

Elevating Vietnamese SMBs to the Fourth Industrial Revolution World

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Digitizing the Vietnamese Economy: Empowering SMBs for the Global Market

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Date: June 15, 2017
Participants: 145 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: UPS, Coca-Cola, Google, Microsoft, and Paypal

Partners: Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

Overview

On June 15, 145 owners and senior executives from Vietnamese Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs) attended a one-day workshop entitled “Digitizing the Vietnamese Economy: Empowering SMBs for the Global Market”. Council members such as UPS, Coca-Cola, Google, Microsoft, and PayPal participated and shared their views on SMBs core empowerment. The workshop was part of the implementation activities from the Memorandum of Outstanding (MOU) signed by the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in 2016 to strengthen the competitiveness of Vietnamese SMBs and help them to be part of the global value chain in digital economy.

Digitizing the Vietnamese Economy: Empowering SMBs for the Global Market

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Digital Tools for SMEs

Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Date: May 23, 2017
Participants: 83 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: UPS, Microsoft, Seagate, PayPal

Partners: Thammasat Consulting Networking and Coaching Center, Federal of Thai Industries (FTI), Thailand Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP)

Overview

Over 80 participants from Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) attended a one-day workshop entitled “Digital Tools for SMEs” in Bangkok. The workshop aimed to upgrade knowledge and skills on good business practices in the digital economy presented by the US multinational companies. The topics of the workshop covered challenges and opportunities for Thai SMEs; optimizing the online experience and e-supply chain; cloud computing; storage solutions for SMEs; and digital payment. At the end of the session, the workshop also provided an opportunity for the SMEs to join the consultation session led by UPS and Thammasat Consulting Networking and Coaching Center.

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Vietnam Workshop Series – Ho Chi Minh City: Digitizing the Vietnamese Economy: Empowering SMBs for the Global Market

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Date: April 20, 2017
Participants: 165 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Coca-cola, Microsoft, Mastercard

Partners: Agency for Enterprise Development: Ministry of Planning and Investment, U.S. Embassy, VCCI, American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)

Overview

As part of the implementation activities of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US-ASEAN Business Council and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to strengthen the competitiveness of Vietnamese Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs), the second workshop in 2017 was held in Ho Chi Minh City. The workshop of “Digitizing the Vietnamese Economy: Empowering SMBs for the Global Market” in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) was attended by more than 160 entrepreneurs from Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs). In April, the US-ASEAN Business council held two SMBs workshops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as the beginning of the council’s 2017 SMBs program in Vietnam with the aim of having a larger symposium in September 2017 at the sideline of the APEC SME ministerial meeting in Ho Chi Minh City. Similarly with the earlier Workshop in Hanoi, April 18^th, the HCMC program included technology-driven innovation in marketing, empowering SMBs through cloud technology, leveraging digital payments for growth, connecting Vietnamese SMBs to the global supply chain, and smart start-up mentorship.

Vietnam Workshop Series – Ho Chi Minh City: Digitizing the Vietnamese Economy: Empowering SMBs for the Global Market

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Vietnam Workshop Series – Hanoi: Digitizing the Vietnamese Economy: Empowering SMBs for the Global Market

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Date: April 18, 2017
Participants: 155 entrepreneurs
Member Participants: Coca-cola, Microsoft, Mastercard, Uber

Partners: Agency for Enterprise Development: Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)

Overview

The US-ASEAN Business Council and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) have continued to support Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) by conducting a series of workshop in Vietnam in the first half of 2017. The first workshop was held in Hanoi and was attended by more than 150 entrepreneurs from SMBs. This workshop successfully shared experiences and business tools from multi-national companies to help SMBs increase their efficiency and productivity and be part of global market players in digital economy. The training program of the workshop included technology-driven innovation in marketing, empowering SMBs through cloud technology, leveraging digital payments for growth, connecting Vietnamese SMBs to the global supply chain, and smart start-up mentorship.

Vietnam Workshop Series – Hanoi: Digitizing the Vietnamese Economy: Empowering SMBs for the Global Market

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Digital Tools for SMEs in the Agricultural and Tourism Sectors

Location: Yangon, Myanmar
Date: March 14, 2017
Participants: 128 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Oracle and General Electric

Partners: Max Myanmar Holding Co., Ltd., the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF), Ministry of Industry Myanmar, Myanmar Tourism Federation (MTF).

Overview

The workshop of “Digital Tools for SMEs in the Agricultural and Tourism Sectors” was attended by more than 120 entrepreneurs from Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). The workshop aimed to share best practices, technical tools, and policy updates to help SMEs increase their efficiency and international reach. The topics in the workshop include: opportunities and challenges for SMEs in Myanmar, online marketing, digital payment tools, and international shipping. Through this workshop, these SMEs have successfully learned on how to best leverage digital tools to grow their businesses, particularly in the agricultural and tourism sector.

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Vietnam Workshop Series – Can Tho: Empowering SMBs through Technology-Driven Innovation

Location: Can Tho, Vietnam
Date: December 15, 2016
Participants: 180 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Facebook, Coca-Cola, Google, Microsoft

Partners: Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

Overview

The workshop in Can Tho was the last of a series of workshop that aimed to reinforce Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)/Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in Vietnam to enhance their capability and knowledge on how to utilize technology-driven innovation. The workshop was attended by about 180 entrepreneurs around Can Tho.

During the workshop, Facebook, Microsoft, P&G, Mastercard and Google presented information on mobile application for online business, cloud technology, e-marketing strategy, digital payment and transaction, and ecosystem for e-commerce.

The workshop also provided a clinic session led by Google, introducing and connecting the SMBs participants to the compatible online platform usage for their businesses. It shared insight on specific criteria and procedures of business in accordance with the industry sectors.

Vietnam Workshop Series – Can Tho: Empowering SMBs through Technology-Driven Innovation

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Digital Tools for SME

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Date: November 28, 2016
Participant: 159 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Facebook, UPS, Mastercard, P&G, and HP Inc.

Partners: Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Republic of Indonesia (MCSME)and U.S. Embassy

Overview

The workshop opened with a panel discussion on policy updates and national program on creating an enabling environment for the SMEs in Indonesia. The panel convened the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Special Advisory Staff to Minister ICT, Chief Operating Officer of bukalapak.com (one of the lead marketplace startups in Indonesia) and founder of Nurbaya Initiative (business incubator partner for MCSME) to deliver thoughts on their experiences in obtaining the advantages from e-commerce development to the participants.

Council member companies provided knowledge on mobile application for online business, e-logistics, e-payment, business sustainability and creative digital marketing strategy. In addition, the session also presented local SMEs success stories that promote the promising borderless market of the digital world in the region.

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Vietnam Workshop Series – Da Nang: Empowering SMBs through Technology-Driven Innovation

Location: Da Nang, Vietnam
Date: October 25, 2016
Participants: 182 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and Google

Partners: Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

Overview

As part of the implementation activities of the MoU between the Council and VCCI to benefit the entrepreneurs in Vietnam, the second workshop of the series was held in Da Nang. The workshop aimed to strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)/Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) competitiveness and reap the benefit of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in a digitalized-world through technology-driven innovation.

Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and Google not only shared insights on how SMBs might utilize the digital tools but also invited their local partners to share the experiences in harnessing digital tools for the communication, marketing, and services of the businesses.

In addition, the workshop also provided the opportunity for the SMBs to join the consultation session to discuss the specific digital utilization challenges and connect the SMBs into the supply chain of U.S. companies.

This is the very first time the Council held an event in Da Nang and was received greatly by more than 180s entrepreneurs.

Vietnam Workshop Series – Da Nang: Empowering SMBs through Technology-Driven Innovation

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Vietnam Workshop Series – Hanoi: Empowering SMBs through Technology-Driven Innovation

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Date: September 20, 2016
Participants: 106 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Facebook, Coca-Cola, Google, Microsoft

Partners: Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

Overview

The Council and VCCI continued to support Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs)/Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by conducting a series of workshops, as part of their MoU signed to empower entrepreneurs in Vietnam. The first workshop was held in Hanoi, where Council member companies shared insights on how SMBs might harness digital and mobile applications for sales and marketing, utilize cloud technology, and optimize technology-driven innovation in advertising.

Vietnam Workshop Series – Hanoi: Empowering SMBs through Technology-Driven Innovation

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