Phnom Penh – The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) and GIZ today marked the successful conclusion of the six-year project, “Strengthening Regional Structures for SME Promotion in ASEAN,” underscoring its achievements in boosting the competitiveness and connectivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the region.
At the closing ceremony, Minister Hem Vanndy praised the initiative’s transformative role, noting its contribution to digital integration and regional market access.
“Strengthening Regional Structures for SME Promotion in ASEAN is a valuable initiative that connects SMEs to business information and support services, consulting, and business matching through the regional ASEAN ACCESS portal and Cambodia’s national platform, KhmerSME,” he said.
The minister emphasized that these digital portals are now vital drivers of SME growth, linking enterprises to supply chains, encouraging SME clusters, promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, and opening doors to regional and international markets.
Launched in 2019 with support from the German Government, the ASEAN-SME project expanded beyond digital platforms to provide direct outreach, supporting 1,228 SMEs across eight capital-provinces in Cambodia.
Dr. Matthias Bickel, Country Director of GIZ Cambodia, highlighted the project’s broad impact.
“The project has been working tirelessly to empower SMEs – the very heartbeat of our region’s economy – by improving their market access and international activities, as well as shaping policies and regulatory environment that make them more resilient,” he stated.
Reflecting on the partnership, he added: “Today’s gathering stands as proof of the power of partnership. It’s a celebration of what we have accomplished together – and the valuable lessons we have learned that will continue to fuel Cambodia’s MSME ecosystem for years to come.”
Looking ahead, Germany reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Cambodia’s micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) development through continued bilateral and regional programs, signaling ongoing cooperation in fostering inclusive economic growth.
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