More small and medium enterprises are encouraged to use a trade portal to enhance market access in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region and other countries.
Mylene Abiva, chairperson of Women’s Business Council Philippines and the first ASEAN Access ambassador from the Philippines, said ASEAN Access, www.aseanaccess.com, is a way for businesses to penetrate the ASEAN market for free without even going to any of these countries.
Abiva said features of the portal include international market access, trade in services, trade in goods, events calendar, online training and trading beyond ASEAN “so you can even do U.S. and EU (European Union).”
She said firms can find contacts in new markets and participate in matchmaking events through ASEAN Access Match.
“You have to make your product shots very impressive and then world-class. Product description and company description should be great. We do about two to three matchings a day with ASEAN. It is really a very powerful tool so I hope you take advantage of the ASEAN Access. And then here, your lifetime access,” Abiva said.
She said extra benefits for service providers are new business opportunities, new suppliers and products, brand visibility, and free marketing tools.
Abiva said the portal also contains sector briefs and country profiles for 10 ASEAN member states.
These include sector briefs on agriculture, food and beverages, clean technology, digital/information technology and manufacturing, she said.
“For example, we have just a webinar on processed fresh fruits and vegetables, that market is really huge because everyone is doing healthy stuff,” she added. “Would you believe that we are exporting game development services, that is part of the ARISE program with the Department of Trade and Industry.” – Press release
