MSMEs form the backbone of the economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Yet, despite their contribution to ASEAN economies and society, participation in exports and global markets remain relatively low. 

MSMEs account for a small proportion of exports relative to their share of activity and employment in the region. Against this backdrop, the MSME Digital Exports in Southeast Asia report assesses and paints an accurate picture of ASEAN MSME exports, identifies key barriers that prevent MSMEs from exporting, and analyses how MSMEs leverage digital technologies to help drive exports in the region. 

By drawing on these insights, ICC and Google aim to inform the ambitious policy discussions that are ongoing both at the national and regional levels and further develop tailored training programmes for MSMEs to upskill and empower businesses in the region.

John W.H. Denton AO, secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce said, “Smaller businesses and entrepreneurs are the backbone of the real economy. Through this partnership with Google, ICC is committed to delivering trusted, quality training to help SMEs harness the opportunities of digital trade. The goal is to ensure our global know-how and solutions benefit business communities and the communities they serve, in Asia and beyond.”

The MSME Digital Exports in Southeast Asia report is underpinned by a survey of 1,560 MSMEs in the 10 ASEAN markets. Key insights from the report include: 

• MSMEs in the ASEAN markets express a strong interest in exporting in the region and internationally – over 60% of surveyed enterprises are looking to expand their export footprint. 
• MSMEs in the ASEAN markets have drastically increased their use of digital tools and technologies – 80% of surveyed enterprises have expanded their use of digital tools in the past two years.
• 70% of surveyed MSMEs in the ASEAN markets see digital tools and technologies as a way to identify and access new markets. 
• MSMEs in the ASEAN markets continue to be hampered by significant Internet coverage and affordability gaps – 65% of surveyed MSMEs reported issues with Internet accessibility (patchy service or slow connection) and affordability.
• E-commerce growth is severely constrained by: the high cost of delivery of returns, issues associated with complaints or disputes, and issues with payments online. 
• MSMEs in the ASEAN markets are seeking tailored support to increase their skills and capabilities in digital marketing and in leveraging digital tools and technologies to access market information – 75% of surveyed MSMEs expressed an interest in developing these capabilities. 

Karan Bhatia, vice president, government affairs and public policy at Google, said, “Digital technologies are creating opportunities for small businesses to trade and reach international markets in ways impossible a generation ago, but those opportunities are not always easy to seize.”

Building on the report, ICC, Google and the International Trade Centre are co-designing a curriculum and creating a network of trainers to train 1,000 ASEAN MSMEs in digital export-relevant skills. 

The ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship in Indonesia will play a leading role in deploying and coordinating the implementation of the training programme. 

With this ambitious project, ICC demonstrates a steadfast commitment to working with key partners and the ICC global network to support and empower the MSME community.