(Eagle News Service) — The ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for the development of small and medium enterprises or SMEs was tackled in a public-private partner dialogue held recently in Cambodia.
Cambodian Secretary of State Heng Sokkung, of the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft of the Royal Government of Cambodia welcomed the holding of the dialogue in Siem Rea, Cambodia that focused on the ASEAN action plan, also known as the Post-2015 SME Vision.
The Cambodian official stressed the importance of improving the investment climate and enhancing the capacity-building for the private sector so that the SMEs in particular would grow and be able to compete in the regional and global arenas.
“The establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 will provide opportunities for business and industry in the region including the SMEs,” said a recent item by the ASEAN Secretariat about the event.
Participants deliberated and exchanged views on proposed goals and initiatives under the 5 key strategic goals of the Post-2015 SME Action Plan, namely; (i) Promote Productivity, Technology and Innovation; (ii) Increase Access to Finance; (iii) Enhance Market Access and Internationalization (iv) Enhance Policy and Regulatory Environment; and (v) Promote Entrepreneurship & Human Capital Development.
The private sector provided a number of inputs highlighting the need for information and facilitative measures as well as the need for monitoring through Key Performance Indicators to ensure success of the implementation of the post-2015 Plan.
The dialogue held on Nov. 24, 2014 is part of the series of consultations on the drafting of the Post-2015 SME work programme. It was held with the support of Japan through the AEM – METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee. Some 120 participants from ASEAN SME Agencies, central banks, business associations, the private sector as well as Dialogue Partners from Japan, Germany, the US and research organisations, the Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development took part in the dialogue. (with a report from ASEAN Secretariat)