APEC forum helps SMEs enhance digital competitiveness
The APEC Online-to-Offline (O2O) Forum was held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 10 to foster digital competitiveness and resilience of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups.
Delegates pose together at the APEC Online-to-Offline (O2O) Forum in Ho Chi Minh City (Source: VNA)
HCM City(VNA) ♑– The APEC Online-to-Offline(O2O) Forum was held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 10 to foster digitalcompetitiveness and resilience of small-andmedium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups.
The one-day forum was also intended toprovide SMEs and startups a platform to present their business plans and raiseawareness of opportunities and challenges they may encounter in the digital economy. It sought to help SMEs and startupsunleash their full potential for sustainable, innovative, inclusive andaquality growth toward a shared future. Le Huong, the Impact Lead of Triip’s “SaveYour Ocean” Initiative, said theOnline-to-Offline business model has already beenapplied in Vietnam, an example ofwhich is sales on Facebook. However, it has yet been defined asan “industry”. “I do hope that the VietnameseGovernment will devise specific legal regulations in this field. And besideslegal matters, I’m sure that all bussiness will adopt this model in the futurebecause more than 40 million Vietnamese people are Facebook users, so ifbusinesses cannot catch up with this trend, they will miss out a lot ofopportunities”, Huong said. The APEC O2O Forum was held as part ofthe 24th APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting (SMEMM) – whichis taking place in Ho Chi Minh City from September 10-15. Establishedin 1989, APEC comprises 21 economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada,Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia,Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia,Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.-VNA
APEC SOM3 began in Ho Chi Minh City on August 29, expected to lay the crucial groundwork for the APEC Leaders’ Week slated in November in Da Nang city.
The 24th APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting (SMEMM) and related meetings, which are scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City from September 10-15, is expected to enhance the competitiveness and creativity capacity of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the digital era.
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
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The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
Delegates pose together at the APEC Online-to-Offline (O2O) Forum in Ho Chi Minh City (Source: VNA) 
