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.

E-Commerce Applications for SMEs in the Agricultural and Handicrafts Sectors

Location: The American Center, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Date: August 2, 2016
Participants: 67 entrepreneurs

Member Participants: Facebook and UPS

Partners: Department of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion (DOSMEP) Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao Businesswomen's Association (LBWA), U.S. Embassy, and USAID

Overview
Through the one-day training program which was held prior to the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting in August 3 to 5, Facebook and UPS presented opportunities and challenges for utilizing e-commerce applications and optimizing the e-supply chain to SMEs/SMBs (Small Medium Businesses) in agricultural and handicraft sectors. The Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce also shared policy updates regarding its government support to further develop the cross border e-commerce trade in the ASEAN.

E-Commerce Applications for SMEs in the Agricultural and Handicrafts Sectors

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Disruptive Innovation for SMEs as A Way to Increase Competitiveness

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Date: June, 9th 2016
Participants: 191

Member Participants: Facebook, Seagate Technology, Procter & Gamble (P&G), United Parcel Service (UPS), PayPal, and Microsoft

Partners: Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Saigon Training and Media Corporation (STMC) and Ho Chi Minh Association of Women Entrepreneurs (HAWEE)

Overview
The workshop discussed the utilization of recent innovations to advance and strengthen Vietnamese small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) competitiveness.

The panelists offered their views on why and how SMBs/SMEs need to go digital; understanding customers and making them happy in the digital economy; survival tips for SMBs; the supply chain of e-retail business; leveraging digital payments for growth; and empowering companies with Cloud services. Furthermore, the workshop also featured a session where U.S. Government representatives presented their role in disruptive innovation for SMBs and start-ups; and a sharing session with a founder of An Viet Long, one of the most successful start-ups in Ho Chi Minh.

There were around 191 participants attended the workshop from Vietnam-based SMBs and start-ups covering the areas of import and export, food processing, consulting, media and communications, jewelry, fashion and agriculture industries.

Disruptive Innovation for SMEs as A Way to Increase Competitiveness

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Improving SMEs Competitiveness for Access to Regional and Global Supply Chain in Digital Economy

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Date: April 14, 2016
Participants: 130 SMEs
Member Participants: Coca-Cola, MasterCard, Microsoft, United Parcel Service (UPS), Baker & McKenzie

Partners: Agency for Enterprise Development, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ho Chi Minh City Young Business Association (YBA)

Overview
The workshop on “Improving SMEs Competitiveness for Access to Regional and Global Supply Chain in Digital Economy” was attended by more than 130 SMEs. The aim of the workshop was enhancing the capacity of Vietnamese SMEs to integrate into regional and global supply chain. The contents of the workshop covered on various areas, mainly supply chain management, digital payments to better managing internal financial system for SMEs, marketing tips, cloud technology for office management and operations, as well as legal issues in daily business activity.

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Utilizing Digital Tools for Smarter Business

Location: Vientiane, Laos
Date: March 23, 2016
Participants: 60 Entrepreneurs

Partners: Department of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (DOSMEP), Ministry of Industry and Commerce

Overview
The training “Utilizing Digital Tools for Smarter Business” aimed to improve young entrepreneurs’ digital literacy and skills in the use of ICT for business development and management, specifically the use of online payment methods for e-commerce. In the training, the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce presented about its government program on empowering SMEs in e-commerce sector.

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Taking Medical Devices Global

Location: Singapore
Date: March 22, 2016
Participants: 52 Entrepreneurs
Member Participants: Boston Scientific and Booz Allen Hamilton

Partners: SPRING Singapore and Association of Medical Device Industry (AMDI)

Overview
Over than 50 entrepreneurs from Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) attended a one-day workshop entitled “Taking Medical Devices Global." This workshop aimed to transfer information, knowledge and skills to Singapore SMEs. The workshop focused on four specific areas: (a) Industry Trends and Implications for Singapore; (b) the Value of Health Economics; (c) Regulatory Perspective in USA, EU and Global Markets; and (d) Logistics & Supply Chain Management for Medical Devices Sector.

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Digital Business for Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Training

Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Date: February 17, 2016
Participants: 150 Entrepreneurs
Member Participants: United Parcel Service (UPS)

Partners: the Office of SME Promotion (OSMEP), USAID, Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the Thai Cosmetic Manufacturer Association (TCMA)

Overview
The event “Digital Business for Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Training” was attended by over 150 Thai entrepreneurs. The training focused on four specific areas: (a) the challenges and opportunities for ASEAN and Thai SMEs in e-commerce at the domestic, regional and international levels; (b) e-technology, platforms, tools and solutions for digital marketing, as well as the legal and regulatory issues on the use of social media and other e-tools for marketing in the digital space; (c) technology-driven ways and means to optimize consumers’ online experiences, customer service and retail distribution; and (d) success stories and experiences in beauty and personal care e-retailing and investment ventures in the CLMV countries.

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Supply Chain Readiness Training in the Automotive Sector

Location: Manila, Philippines
Date: January 29, 2016
Participants: 75 Entrepreneurs
Member Participants: United Parcel Service (UPS), Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC)

Partners: the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Board of Investment (BOI), Federation of Automotive Industries of the Philippines (FAIP), the Philippines Parts Maker Association, Inc. (PPMA), the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI)

Overview
More than 70 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs participated in a discussion in Manila about Supply Chain Readiness Training in the Automotive Sector. Key topics presented during the event include: The Philippines’ Automotive Roadmap, MNC manufacturer’s Perspective on Supply Chain and Manufacturing Best Practices in the Automotive Industry, Logistics & Supply Chain Management in the Auto Parts Manufacturing Sector, and the Automotive Industry in ASEAN and Beyond. The discussion was also followed by a panel discussion about actual issues in the automotive industry in Manila.

Supply Chain Readiness Training in the Automotive Sector

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Supply Chain Integration for SMEs: Working with Multi-National Corporations

Location: Yangon, Myanmar
Date: November 1, 2015
Participants: 105 Entrepreneurs

Partners: The Union of Myanmar Federated Chambers of Comerce International (UMFCCI), Inclusive Myanmar Development Initiative (IMDI), U.S. Embassy, USAID

Overview
Through this one-day event, the Baker & McKenzie, Chevron, Coca-Cola, and P&G, outlined the requirements for and expectation of SMEs who wish to do business with foreign corporations, particularly US corporations. The seminar was presented into a series of discussions, each of which was followed by a question and answer session. These discussions covered several issues, including: available incentives for SMEs, challenges and expectation from AEC for SMEs, legal aspect of working with MNCs, civil society space, and sustainable business growth. Selected successful local businesses also shared their experiences working with these MNCs.

Supply Chain Integration for SMEs: Working with Multi-National Corporations

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SME Workshop on Succeeding in a Digital Economy

Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Date: October 12, 2015
Participants: 141 Entrepreneurs

Partners: The Office of SME Promotion in Thailand, Federation of Thai Industries, Federation of business and Professional Women’s Association of Thailand (BPW), U.S. Embassy, USAID

Overview
Openned by a plenary panel discussing about the opportunities for SMEs in cross-border trade in the digital economy, the training covered several topics such as: digital banking, digitizing business processess in maximizing gain in a digital economy, marketing survival tips in digital economy, as well as how to optimize the online experience and e-supply chain. The workshop was also featured an introduction to the current condition of Thailand’s digital economy presented by NSTDA Bangkok, which followed by two inspiring Thai SMEs’ success story. The training then concluded by a lucky draw for participants sponsored by Seagate Technology.

SME Workshop on Succeeding in a Digital Economy

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Wokshop on Improving SME Access to Regional and Global Markets

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Date: September 17, 2015
Participants: 130 SMEs

Partners: Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC), ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN), Agency for Enterprises Development of Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) of Vietnam, U.S. Embassy, USAID

Overview
The workshop consists of several trainings delivered by US multinational companies, including FedEx, Microsoft, MasterCard, and Baker & McKenzie which covered issues such as logistics and supply chain management, maximizing the usage of cloud technology, leveraging the digital payments for growth, and legal aspects of cross border e-commerce.

Wokshop on Improving SME Access to Regional and Global Markets

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