
Initiatives under ASEAN for Entrepreneurs and SMEs:
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1.ASEAN SME Service Center
The ASEAN SME Service Center provides information and services on productivity, technology, innovation, market access, internationalization, finance, policy, human capital development etc. Latest trends and activities related to SMEs in the ASEAN region can also be found in the website.
http://www.aseansme.org/home
2.ASEAN SME Online Academy
The ASEAN SME Academy is a one-stop, open-access gateway that provides business information and training resources to support ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development and internationalization. The Academy works to improve the business development services to SMEs through accessible courses and business information via computer, smart phones, and tablets.
The Academy provides courses and tools that cover subjects such as finance / accounting, management, marketing, operation, technology and trade/logistics. It also assists SMEs to find networking opportunities and gain access to region-specific information to further grow and upgrade their businesses.
For more information on the ASEAN SME Academy, please explore the website and infographic below: www.asean-sme-academy.org
3. ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR)
The ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR) provides a single point of access to all the trade-related information of ASEAN Member States. The ATR is an ASEAN-level IT interface linked by means of hyperlinks to a series of interoperable National Trade Repositories (NTRs) that provide and maintain the national-level trade related information and the actual contents.
The trade-related information accessible through the ATR is organized on the basis of nine ‘topics’ in line with Article 13 of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA). All the actual information is available on NTRs of the ASEAN Member States and duly maintained by their respective Governments.
The information found on the ATR is accessible both by ‘topic’ and by ‘country’ (i.e., the ten ASEAN Member States). The nine ‘topics’ are the following:
- Tariff nomenclature;
- MFN tariffs, preferential tariffs offered under the ATIGA and other Agreements of ASEAN with its Dialogue Partners;
- Rules of origin;
- Non-tariff measures;
- National trade and customs laws and rules;
- Procedures and documentary requirements;
- Administrative rulings;
- Best practices in trade facilitation; and
- List of authorised economic operators.
The structure of the ATR allows, for each topic, to retrieve the trade-related information sought in each ASEAN Member State.
The ATR also includes a link to the webpage of the ASEAN Consultation to Solve Trade and Investment Issues. www.atr.asean.org
4. ASSIST-The ASEAN Solutions for Investments, Services and Trade
The ASSIST mechanism was established to implement the ASEAN Consultations to Solve Trade and Investment Issues (ACT) mandated under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and it is loosely based on the European Union’s SOLVIT system.
What types of issues does ASSIST deal with?
- Various tariff and non-tariff-related measures affecting goods;
- Issues in the area of cross-border services; and
- Measures limiting investment in various sectors of ASEAN integration.
ASSIST does not deal with any of these issues:
- Employee/employer disputes or discrimination claims;
- Matters that are being or have been litigated/arbitrated in national jurisdictions;
- Complaints against individuals or companies;
- Matters not related to intra-ASEAN trade, services or investment;
- Visa and residence rights; and
- Cross-border movement of capital or payments.
https://assist.asean.org/en/home