FIFTH ASEAN INCLUSIVE BUSINESS SUMMIT
Organisers
ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME)
Guided by the ASEAN Inclusive Business Framework endorsed at the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) in September 2017, the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME) as the main sectoral body responsible on MSME-related policies pursued the promotion of inclusive business model in ASEAN. Since 2018, the ACCMSME in collaboration with iBAN, UN ESCAP and OECD has implemented numerous activities to create awareness on the IB model. Most recently, the Guidelines for the Promotion of Inclusive Business in ASEAN was endorsed at the 52nd AEM in August 2020. The Guidelines serve as a reference on how IB can be supported at the national level, and recommendations on how to promote IB further at regional level.
Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI)
Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) of the Kingdom of Cambodia was established in March 2020. The Ministry is mandated to spearhead the industry, science, technology, and innovation sector, including handicrafts and water. Specifically, the Ministry is responsible for preparing policies and development programs for Small and Medium Enterprises in Cambodia. The Ministry has its respresentatives in the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME).
In August 2022, the Royal Government of Cambodia issued a decision to establish the Inclusive Business Steering Group of which the Ministry is the leading institution. The Steering Group is mandated to lead the promotion of Inclusive Business in the country; including preparing policies, regulations, strategies, or programs to help inclusive businesses grow and generate a greater impact on socioecnomic development, as well as encouraging more businesses to transform into inclusive businesses.
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) serves as the United Nations’ regional hub promoting cooperation among countries to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. The largest regional intergovernmental platform with 53 Member States and 9 associate members, ESCAP has emerged as a strong regional think-tank offering countries sound analytical products that shed insight into the evolving economic, social and environmental dynamics of the region. The Commission’s strategic focus is to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is reinforced and deepened by promoting regional cooperation and integration to advance responses to shared vulnerabilities, connectivity, financial cooperation and market integration. ESCAP’s research and analysis coupled with its policy advisory services, capacity building and technical assistance to governments aims to support countries’ sustainable and inclusive development ambitions.
ESCAP leverages its expertise in promoting impact investment, social enterprises, sustainable and responsible business and inclusive innovation to support policymakers develop inclusive business policies and provide a sub-regional platform for sharing knowledge and lessons learned across South-East Asia.
Since 2019, ESCAP, in collaboration with iBAN, has supported governments to enhance the policy environment for inclusive business in South-East Asia, providing country-level analysis and policy advice and promoting regional policy dialogue and knowledge exchange.
Inclusive Business Action Network
The Inclusive Business Action Network (iBAN) is a global initiative supporting the scaling and replication of inclusive business models. Through its strategic pillars iBAN blue and iBAN weave, iBAN manages an innovative online knowledge platform on inclusive business (www.inclusivebusiness.net) and offers a focused Capacity Development Programme for policymakers and investment seeking companies in developing and emerging countries.
iBAN creates a space where evidence-based knowledge transforms into learning and new partnerships. With its focus on promoting the upscale of inclusive business models and consequently improving the lives of the poor, iBAN is actively contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
iBAN is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union. It is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) aims to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) has been supporting the ASEAN region through policy advice, publications and events since its inception in 2014.
The OECD has been the pioneer of analysis around the issue of social and inclusive entrepreneurship. We provide in-depth analysis leading to tailored and evidence-based policy recommendations to support governments in designing and implementing enabling strategies supporting social entrepreneurship across the world. A specifically developed Better Entrepreneurship Tool helps policymakers and others assess their social enterprise ecosystems. The 2018 SME Policy Index for ASEAN has a dedicated chapter focused on good practices for governments supporting social and inclusive entrepreneurship.
The OECD has been working with businesses, governments, workers and civil society to promote Responsible Business Conduct. The OECD is home to one of the main internationally-recognised instruments on RBC, known as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which reflect the expectation from governments to businesses on how to act responsibly and bring together all key thematic areas of business responsibility. Under the Responsible Supply Chains in Asia programme, the OECD, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation and the European Union, and six Asian partner economies, is working with all stakeholders to make the culture of business the culture of responsibility, and keep people at the centre of development.
OXFAM International
Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. We are working across regions in about 70 countries, with thousands of partners, and allies, supporting communities to build better lives for themselves, grow resilience and protect lives and livelihoods also in times of crisis. Because we want lasting solutions, we fight the inequalities that keep people locked in poverty and injustice, we tackle not the symptoms but the systems, and we campaign for genuine, durable change.
We have a vision of a just and sustainable world. A world where people and the planet are at the center of our economy. Where women and girls live free from violence and discrimination. Where the climate crisis is contained. And where governance systems are inclusive and allow for those in power to be held to account.