PRESS RELEASES

Workshop on ASEAN Project Cooperation on Strengthening SME Business and Technology Business Incubators

June 19, 2013

    The two-day Workshop on “ASEAN Project Cooperation on Strengthening SME Business and Technology Business Incubators” was held on 14 and 15 June, 2013 in Bogor, Indonesia. This workshop was organized by the Ministry of Cooperative and SME of the Republic of Indonesia and financially supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). Approximately 50 participants from SME Agencies in ASEAN Member States, incubators, venture capitals, academic experts, ASEAN Secretariat and Mission of Japan to ASEAN took part in the workshop.

    In the workshop, active discussion on supporting measures for start-up companies took place. For example, research on current condition of establishment of incubators and their activities in respective ASEAN Member States was reported. There was also discussion on the establishment of network of venture capitals in the ASEAN Member States. In the opening session on the first day, Ms. Takako Ito, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan to ASEAN pointed out that nine projects on SMEs have been supported by JAIF since its establishment in 2006. In addition, she mentioned that the Government of Japan has taken various policies for supporting SMEs including financing, tax and legal aspects and has supported Japan’s economic growth. Ms. Ito further mentioned that Japan was willing to share its experiences with ASEAN in order for ASEAN to use the experiences as references when they formulate their own SME policies.

    Japan will continue to support ASEAN’s efforts related to entrepreneurship with support of JAIF, and make economic activities in the region more dynamic.