The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in collaboration with the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on April 8 officially launched the ASEAN SME Academy 2.0, an upgraded version of an online learning platform.
Jakarta (VNA) - The Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) in collaboration with the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC)and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on April 8 officiallylaunched the ASEAN SME Academy 2.0, an upgraded version of an online learningplatform.
Aiming to reach more micro, small and medium enterprises(MSMEs) and help accelerate their businesses recoveries, the version introducesmany new features including courses available in Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, andVietnamese, attractive visual design features, and top-quality resourcesincluding specific modules for COVID-19 recovery.
Overall, the primary goal of the academy is to provide aplatform for ASEAN MSMEs to develop their digital skills.
In his remarks, Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General ofASEAN, underscored that digitalisation is a new power of growth andcompetitiveness for every business and every economy. Changing the broader businessmindset to harness digital technology is the key to success, he noted.
The ASEAN SME Academy 2.0 is a partnership between the USprivate sector, the US Government, and ASEAN to help empower small businessesin Southeast Asia, said Ambassador Ted Osius, President and CEO of US-ABC.
Kate Rebholz, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., of the US Mission toASEAN, stressed that the new initiative will support thousands of SMEs acrossSoutheast Asia as they recover from the pandemic, build resilience for thefuture, and adapt to the growing digital economy.
Steven G. Olive, Mission Director for the USAID RegionalDevelopment Mission for Asia, highlighted that USAID’s renewed support and private-sectorpartnerships will help equip the bloc’s SMEs with the necessary training,tools, and resources to pave the way for a more prosperous Indo-Pacific. /.
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Illustrative photo (Source: asean.org) 
