The 10-member Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (Asean) has endorsed a 10-year blueprint to promote the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) among member countries.
International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, said Asean economic ministers agreed on the proposed blueprint for the development of SMEs for the period 2004-2014 during their meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 3 September.
She said the blueprint provides measures aimed at accelerating the formation and integration of regional SMEs into competitive and dynamic regional and global suppliers.
"The focus of this blueprint is the facilitation to access to information, market, human resources and business development, services and modern technologies," Rafidah said at the opening of the Smidex 2004 showcase in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
