Borneo Bulletin Digital

7 / 32

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 Home 7
ASEAN and The Asia Foundation, with support
from are collaborating to equip
200,000micro,mediumandsmall enterprises
(MSMEs) in the region including over 4,000
from Brunei Darussalam with digital skills and
tools amidst the COVID†19 crisis, the ASEAN
Secretariat stated on Monday.
The ASEAN Coordinating Committee
on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(ACCMSME) and The Asia Foundation have
come together to launch the Go Digital
ASEAN initiative. Supported by a USD3.3
million grant from the initiative
is designed to equip the enterprises as well
as under-employed youth, particularly those
in rural and isolated areas, with crucial
digital skills and tools; expand economic
opportunities across ASEAN member states
(AMS); and minimise the negative impact
from the COVID†19 crisis.
The Go Digital ASEAN initiative focusses
on closing the digital gap across ASEAN,
in support of the vision set out by the
ACCMSME’s Action Agenda on Digitalisation
of ASEAN MSMEs through Capacity Building.
Implemented by The Asia Foundation
with support from - Google’s
philanthropic arm, the initiative will train up
to 200,000 people from rural regions and
ASEAN MSMEs to be
equipped with digital
skills, tools amidst
COVID-19 crisis
Azlan Othman underserved communities — including entre-
preneurs, under-employed youth andwomen.
Working with local partners in AMS,
the USD3.3 million grant will broaden
participation in the digital economy to include
groups that have the most to gain from digital
literacy skills and online safety awareness.
Amidst the COVID†19 crisis, this initiative will
also be a mechanism to help MSMEs learn
about programmes or assistance that can
help them continue to operate during the
COVID†19 crisis.
The project will reach up to 200,000
underserved people and rural micro
enterprises across the region, including 60
per cent women and 40 per cent youth (ages
15˜35). Leveraging The Asia Foundation’s
on-ground networks, the initiative will bring
critical digital skills training directly to those
who need it the most.
COVID†19 is a signišicant threat to
enterprises across ASEAN. The disruption of
business operations and supply chains, along
with the slowdown in sectors such as tourism,
is putting MSMEs at severe risk. Digital
capacity will be vital to helping small-scale
entrepreneurs stay in business, providing
access to wider markets, information, and
services previously unavailable.
Working with governments, local part-
ners, and youth volunteers across the 10
ASEAN member countries, Go Digital ASEAN
delivers trainings for benešiciaries in villages
and secondary cities, equips MSME owners
and workers with the capacity to engage in
the digital economy, and provides informa-
tion on COVID†19 assistance.
The local partners have deep-rooted
experience working with rural, poor, and
disadvantaged communities, including
women, youth, ethnic minorities, and people
with disabilities.
These partners were also selected for their
expertise in the informal sector or in target
industries such as agriculture, tourism and
handicrafts. Through the Go Digital ASEAN
initiative, participants will learn how to better
utilise the Internet and digital tools to grow
their businesses and reduce vulnerability
against cyber-threats.
Training will be customised to local
conditions and will cover modules such as
digital marketing, business development,
and online safety components to enable
participants to access the most relevant tools
and skills to help improve their livelihoods.
Information on relief programmes and
measures provided by AMS will also help
MSMEs continue to operate amidst the
COVID†19 crisis.