ASEAN and Germany see SMEs as future for growth
Small and medium-sized enterprises will play a big role, such as Asean moves toward regional economic integration in three years time, experts said at a Conference in Bangkok last week.
The Conference, "SME Sector in the AEC to 2015" was organized by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Chula global network and Asean Studies Centre of Chulalongkorn University.
A German legislator said Smes are very important in his country's economic growth and could be the same case for Asean.
"Without Germany SMES would not be what it is," said MP Michael Fuchs, who back on two decades of experience with small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany looks.
Wimonkan Kosumas of the Office of SMES promotion said that SMES will serve as the backbone of the Asean.
SMEs, which 30 to 53 percent of GDP and 19 to 31 percent of the export in different Asean countries shapes, often family owned and locally oriented. These companies also offer 50 to 95 percent of the employment in the region.
ASEAN has recognized this and an action plan for the protection of small and medium-sized enterprises and prepare them for the coming economic integration was introduced.
Fuchs, the important role of SMEs in Germany's revival despite the European debt crisis. But he said not every measure that helped push the SME sector to success in Germany will help Asean countries. "It is a question about the legal conditions and economic prepositions," he said.
Speakers at the Conference stressed that education and innovative spirits are the key to successful small and medium-sized enterprises. "I'm excited when watching the second and third generation as they are more educated and more open to innovation than the first generation," said Terence Gomez from the University of Malaysia.
Experts said the quality of education in the region is low, but it is manageable, citing South Korea as an example of how Governments can help provide training to skilled workers. Seoul offers an all-compassing counseling program that training management skills, brand development and negotiations with overseas traders.
South Korean SMES service 10 billion compared with large enterprises 1.5 billion.
Some of the measures that Korea had taken to address shortage of skilled labour include recruiting talented young people, to free them from military service and the provision of technical training.
Success stories-Koreas as the coffee brand CoffeBene, which also operates in the US, Denso and Aisin Seiki, which auto parts worldwide by Toyota sells, are evidence of the country success in its support of small businesses.
Another important factor for the success of the SME sector is access to finance. Fuchs advised to minimize bureaucracy.
Hang Thi Thu Nguyen Viet Nam agreed Academy. "We don't need more access to funding, we must simplify," she said. "Small and medium-sized companies should be asked what is accessible for them and how they can apply for help from the Government."
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