Page 37 - ASEAN BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2019

ASEAN Business & Investment Summit 2019 37

INDONESIA

MSMEs have been the backbone of the economy in the region
and even perhaps the world. While the 4IR has created opportunities for
them to maximize their business potential, ASEAN 4.0 can be the game
changer for a lot of MSMEs to engage the world. As Internet penetration
has become increasingly high within the region, ASEAN should focus
on its efforts to maintaining the trend. Some of the focus should be
to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is built and the human
ANANGGA W.
ROOSDIONO resources are prepared, otherwise the inverse effect could happen and
we fall behind the rest of the world and suffer, instead of maximizing

the potential of the 4IR. The proper utilization of 4IR could narrow the gap between the MSMEs
within the region in access to market, business development, etc.
Indonesia’s Online Business is a rapidly growing market with Go-jek, Tokopedia, Traveloka
among the big players that are maximizing the potential of the 4IR. They not only focus on B2C, but
also conduct B2B. It solves one of the MSME’s biggest obstacles, Access to Market. Today anyone
with access to the internet can take part in the ever growing online community of buying and
selling through numerous platforms.
ASEAN-BAC Indonesia applauds ASEAN-BAC Thailand’s “Legacy Project” initiative of capacity
building through AHEAD, which is exactly what is currently needed in ASEAN.

LAO PDR

We salute the ASEAN-BAC Thailand which is most ably led by
our 2019 Chair, Khun Arin Jira, for its herculean effort in bringing about
a highly successful staging of the ASEAN Business and Investment
Summit (ABIS) and the ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) Gala Night on
November 2-3 in Bangkok.
Together with our colleagues in the Council, we extend our full
support to the 2019 ABA and ABIS as our biggest advocacy event for the
OUDET
SOUVANNAVONG year and for giving life and vibrance to Thailand Chairmanship’s theme
of “Empowering ASEAN 4.0”. For a developing member of ASEAN, we

cannot agree more that embracing 4IR is the most effective vehicle to make the development
divide in the region narrower.
We look at the 4IR not so much as a threat, but more of an opportunity to catch up with
our more advanced brethren in ASEAN. Of specific interest to ASEAN-BAC Lao PDR is the “AHEAD
Legacy” project which stands for ASEAN Human Empowerment And Development. AHEAD’s 4
Pillars of Digital Infrastructure, Digital Connectivity, Digitally Empowered MSMEs and Digital Access
to Finance for MSMEs are all very important for our country and our region. These are investments
we should now make, both our government and private sector, to prepare our peoples for the future
and ensure prosperity for all.
We therefore thank ASEAN-BAC Thailand for bringing AHEAD as a concrete set of reform
priorities in all aspects of its 2019 advocacy undertakings especially during ABIS.
Congratulations, once again, and great job ASEAN-BAC Thailand!