One of the Priority Economic Deliverables under Cambodia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022 is the creation of a framework for promoting the growth of the Digital Start-up Ecosystem in ASEAN. The draft Framework is intended to guide ASEAN Member States (AMS) in establishing and developing their digital start-up ecosystems to promote the growth of digital start-ups in their respective countries, with consideration of the varying degrees of digital readiness among AMS.

To this end, the ASEAN Secretariat will hold the 8th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Dialogue with the private sector, particularly digital start-ups, business associations and venture capitals, to identify the important factors to foster a conducive ecosystem for digital start-ups in ASEAN, identify the challenges faced on the ground, and the needed support for start-up to grow their business in the region.

The private sector plays an important role towards the realisation of the AEC. The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), ASEAN Associated Entities, and Joint Business Councils (JBC) have submitted recommendations to assist ASEAN in realising the AEC. However, the views from digital start-up companies are still under-represented.

This dialogue aims to be a platform for the digital start-ups and other relevant stakeholders to provide inputs to the ASEAN’s initiative on creating an ecosystem for digital start-ups in the region, especially to understand the challenges faced by digital start-ups and explore concrete initiatives with the private sector to further enhance the ecosystem for digital start-ups to grow in ASEAN.

The Tech For Good Institute (TFGI) - a non-profit think tank focused on research and discourse around advancing Southeast Asia’s digital economy - has also come onboard as a knowledge and dialogue partner to support this ASEAN initiative at the 8th AEC Dialogue. Under a year-long collaboration, The TFGI will continue to co-host a series of dialogue activities with the ASEAN BAC to further conversations, and contribute towards new research in this area of the digital economy.

Our diverse set of notable speakers will share their perspectives on how the digital start-up ecosystem in the region can be further enhanced so that its potential as an engine for economic growth can be realized in an equitable, inclusive, sustainable manner.

The Dialogue’s insights will be incorporated into a report for ASEAN member states on the topic of supporting start-ups’ growth, and serve as a contribution to one of the key Priority Economic Deliverables under #Cambodia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN this year.

It will cover two panel-session tracks:

🔹Session 1: Unlocking ASEAN’s Entrepreneurial Potential

🔹Session 2: Shaping ASEAN Digital Start-Up’s Growth for Good

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