Hanoi (VNA) – An ASEAN training course on improving export capacity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by women took place on December 21.
A report by the Economic Research Institutefor ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) showed that SMEs represent 97-99 percentof firms and 60-80 percent of jobs in ASEAN.
In recent years, the number of female entrepreneurs in ASEAN hasalso increased over years with over 60 million helming companies, most of themare SMEs.
Director of the ASEAN Secretariat’s Organisational Structure HoQuang Trung said at present, most women-led SMEs in ASEAN operate in fieldswith low value that require limited skills.
During the post-pandemic period, e-commerce and digitallogistics services will help female entrepreneurs easily export goods, he said,adding that when the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership takes effectnext year, trade among member states will thrive, thus bringing moreopportunities to women-led SMEs.
Mai Thi Thuy, Chairwoman of the Hanoi Women’s Association of Smalland Medium Enterprises, said governments of ASEAN member states should buildpolicies to continue promoting the development of women-led SMEs.
Experts at the event also highlighted the need to encourage theinvolvement of women in digital economy by supplying support services to SMEs,improving their digital capacity and encouraging the use of informationtechnology tools.
They suggested issuing policies to help SMEs access financialtools, thus reducing barriers to their credit access while making it easier forthem to reach overseas markets by applying more flexible rules of origin./.
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At the event (Photo: congthuong.vn) 
