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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Regional Policy Dialogue on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs to Advance AEC Development
Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Date: November 5, 2014
Participants: 60 Women Entrepreneurs

Partners: Qualcomm, ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN), U.S. Embassy, USAID

Overview
The Regional Policy Dialogue on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs to Advance AEC Development brought together the ASEAN SMEWG, AWEN members, private-sector stakeholders at the national and regional levels, and representatives from several international organizations.  Participants shared good practices, success stories and lessons learned in fostering women entrepreneurship and enterprises. Participants also provided recommendations on how to incorporate gender mainstreaming to enhance women’s entrepreneurship and enterprise for SMEWG’s consideration in framing the ASEAN SME Strategic Action Plan 2016-2025 and its Implementation Roadmap for 2016-2025.

Regional Policy Dialogue on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs to Advance AEC Development
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Developing Partnerships and Supply Chain Integration for SMEs
Location: Yangon, Myanmar

Date: August 26, 2014
Participants: 248 Entrepreneurs

Partners: Hewlett-Packard (HP), Baker & McKenzie, the Union of Myanmar Federated Chambers of Comerce International (UMFCCI), Myanmar Women’s Entrepreneurs Association, Myanmar Computer Company Group (MCC Group), Ministry of Industry of Myanmar, U.S. Embassy, USAID

Overview
More than 200 entrepreneurs gathered in Yangon for the workshop, created by U.S. multinationals companies and the U.S. government focused on giving training to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) about how they can begin to integrate their businesses into the global supply chain. The workshop covered several issues including marketing, international exporting, legal aspects of cross-border trade, and how to leverage technology to expand their business. The workshop also included one-on-one consultation session where the participants could consult and receive advice from the speakers.

Developing Partnerships and Supply Chain Integration for SMEs
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Market Access for SMEs: Supplying to ASEAN and the World
Location: Manila, Philippines

Date: July 24, 2014
Participants: 150 SMEs

Partners: Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, U.S. Embassy, USAID

Overview
The workshop covered several topics including: innovative branding for supply chain management, leveraging e-commerce platform, e-commerce payment tools, online marketing to strenghthen global presence, logistics, and legal aspects of cross border e-commerce; which was followed by one-on-one consultation session between the speakers and participants. 

Market Access for SMEs: Supplying to ASEAN and the World
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SMEs in a Digital, Borderless, Competitive and Greener World: Development Trend and Tools

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Date: June 21, 2014
Participants: 223 SMEs

Partners: Procter & Gamble (P&G), Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs of Indonesia, U.S. Embassy, USAID

Overview
The workshop, held in Jakarta, consists of several trainings delivered by US-ABC member companies: Procter & Gamble (P&G), FedEx and Seagate. It aimed to assist the participants in joining global supply chains, which covered various topics such as: business development and management in a digital world, innovative branding for business development, and logistics solutions and tools. The workshop was concluded by one-on-one consultation session between participants and the speakers.

SMEs in a Digital, Borderless, Competitive and Greener World: Development Trend and Tools
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P&G Leadership College

Location: Singapore
Date: June 17, 2014
Participants: 50 SMEs

Partners: Google; Microsoft; SPRING Singapore.

Overview
Attracted Singapore SME leaders from across 17 sectors, this workshop on June 17, 2015 is the first P&G Leadership College, which will be replicated in other ASEAN countries as a part of US-ASEAN Business Alliance for Competitive SMEs activities. Fully supported by Procter & Gamble (P&G) – Chair of US-ABC ASEAN Committee, this event was opened by a panel discussion, giving the participants insights on the global business landscape and success strategies for accelerating growth, strategy development and the power of “Big Ideas”. Senior executives of Google and Microsoft also featured in this panel. This day-length event then followed by a series of seminars, which covered several topics, including: accelerating growth strategy, human resource, communications and marketing strategy, innovation, strategic planning and supply chain management. 

P&G Leadership College
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Leveraging E-Commerce to Help SMEs Reach New Markets

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: June 3, 2014
Participants: 172 SMEs

Partners: Paypal, Baker &McKenzie, SME Corporation Malaysia, U.S. Embassy, USAID

Overview
This workshop in Malaysia was conducted to assist participating Malaysian SMEs to learn more about how to boost their regional and global competitiveness. The workshop consists of several trainings on various issues such as: leveraging e-commerce platforms and payment tools, maximizing international shipping and delivery services, the legal aspects of cross-border e-commerce, as well as strengthening global market presence through online marketing. There were also one-on-one clinic session in which participants had opportunity to get advice from the speakers of the trainings. 

Leveraging E-Commerce to Help SMEs Reach New Markets
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Integrating SMEs into Global Supply Chains: Improving Access to Regional and International Markets
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Date: April 22, 2014
Participants: 125 Entrepreneurs

Partners: VISA, Citibank, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), U.S. Embassy, USAID

Overview
Experts from global leading U.S. firms shared insights on cross-border e-commerce, exporting to global markets, and best practices of global supplly chains in the workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. There were alogether 15 speakers presented basic skills and knowledge covering several issues such as: seeking new business opportunities via digital marketing solutions, financing and cross-border payments, leveraging the power of technology, international shipping, as well as legal aspects of cross-border e-commerce. The provided information was expected to enable participating SMEs to be more competitive as they seek to expand their companies. This workshop, the first workshop held by the Business Alliance, emphasized the launch of US-ASEAN Business Alliance for Competitive SMEs earlier in March 2014. 

Integrating SMEs into Global Supply Chains: Improving Access to Regional and International Markets
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