The ASEAN Foundation and Microsoft expand partnership

The programme will target young entrepreneurs aged 16-25, and focus on the latest ICT applications for SME development. Over the next 24 months, the pilot project is expected to reach more than 20,000 people—youth, students, and women—and close to 1,000 SMEs from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Dr. Makarim Wibisono, ASEAN Foundation executive director remarked: “Our vision for this ICT programme is that it will not only help increase growth and competitiveness among micro-entrepreneurs in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, but that its success will also lead to the future implementation of similar projects in other ASEAN countries. Through our long-standing collaboration with Microsoft, The ASEAN Foundation stands ready to help people across the region realize greater opportunity through improved access to information technology.”

Tracey Fellows, president of Microsoft Asia Pacific, said: “I am delighted to launch this grant, a first for Microsoft in the region in its scope and breadth, and the next exciting step in our long-term partnership with The ASEAN Foundation. SMEs are the lifeblood of most countries in this region. Through this partnership we want to enable the next generation of young people to start their own business or create their own opportunities. This grant reflects our belief in the power of technology to help transform lives, and the social and economic development of every nation.”

The launch of the programme is a key milestone in tackling rising jobless rates among young people. According to a paper released in early September by the International Labour Organization titled “Global Employment Outlook: Bleak Labour Market Prospects for Youth”, youth unemployment rates in South East Asia and the Pacific are forecasted to rise from 13.1 per cent in 2012 to 14.2 per cent in 2017.

The new programme will see close collaboration between non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia and organisations from the public and private sectors, working together to help young entrepreneurs realise their full potential through activities such as:

· Development and delivery of ICT curriculum tailored for the needs of micro-entrepreneurs, to help them understand how they can use technology most effectively to sustain and grow their businesses.

· A ‘Train the Trainer’ series to help communities extend the reach of this curriculum across the region.

·  Selection of one entrepreneur for an E-Business Incubation program, which will provide mentorship and assistance as they implement ICT marketing tools into their business operations. 

 The project announced today expands upon The ASEAN Foundation’s partnership with Microsoft, which began in 2005 and has resulted in the development of ICT curriculum for farmers in rural areas, and delivery of ICT training to more than 50,000 people in Indonesia.