Over 90% of enterprises in ASEAN countries are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), accounting for 50% to 90% of employment in the region. MSMEs are important “engines of growth” in ASEAN economies, contributing up to 50% of GDP of ASEAN member states. 1 Although MSMEs contribute significantly to the ASEAN economy, at present, they are often subordinate at the lower layer of the supply chain as subcontractors to major overseas manufacturers. Therefore, the revenue MSMEs receive from overseas manufacturers is often only 20-30% of the product price. The lack of information, access to market, and technology of MSMEs have been the issues hindering development of MSMEs. The project “ASEAN Training Courses to Build and Enhance Export Capacities for SMEs” consisted of workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, site visit to local MSME and publication of guidebook on export capacities for MSMEs in December 2017. Total of 85 participants attended from 10 AMSs. The project contributed to enhancing the export capabilities of ASEAN MSMEs and related associations, building network among the stakeholders and enabling MSMEs to access global economies.

More and more ASEAN farmers have realized the sustainable benefits of organic farming—reduced expenses, higher yields, increased income, and safer and healthier food for the community. Let’s hear from Dewey, Moses, and Renato, organic farmers from the Philippines, on why and how they adopted the organic agriculture farming system1. Involving farmers as the ultimate beneficiaries of organic agriculture farming system is not only seen as an attempt to bridge theory and practice, but also to get them engaged and invested in the initiative.

Cities play an important role in the development of nations. They serve not only as hubs for economic and political activities, but also as centers of cultural interactions among its populace. Home to some of the fastest growing cities, the ASEAN region, like the rest of the world, also faces the challenge of balancing the economic benefits of urbanization and the environmental costs that go with it. In recent years, ASEAN has undertaken humble steps to address this challenge. It recognizes that a collaborative, integrated, and innovative approach is key to promote the development of ASEAN environmentally sustainable cities (ESC). Through the ASEAN ESC Model Cities Programme, a network of 40 ASEAN cities has embarked on a shared journey towards urban sustainability at the local level. Encouraging milestones were reached from the ESC pilot projects as seen from the stories of Da Nang in Viet Nam and Luang Prabang in Lao PDR. Da Nang’s environmentally friendly residential areas   Da Nang, a coastal city, is one of Viet Nam’s famous tourist destinations. Recently, the city took pride in hosting the 6th Global Environment Facility Assembly in 2018 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in 2017. Such opportunities that have put the city in the international stage are encouraging for Da Nang to further step up its efforts to make the city an environmentally friendly city. From 2011 to 2015, the city participated in the ASEAN ESC Model Cities Programme. Its pilot project was on environmentally friendly residential areas. Through the ASEAN ESC Model Cities Programme, Da Nang established three models of environmentally friendly residential areas: 1) Chinh Gian Ward (Thanh Khe District), 2) Hoa An Ward (Cam Le District), and 3) Thai Lai Village in Hoa Nhon Ward (Hoa Vang District). “Like other rapidly developing cities in Viet Nam, Da Nang was facing a solid waste problem, in particular in suburban areas. Littering, low collection rate, and unsegregated waste were common practices, due to the community’s limited awareness,” said Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Deputy Head of Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha shared that she was most proud when her office visited Chinh Gian Ward sometime after the assistance to the pilot project finished. She witnessed huge improvement in the residential area’s waste segregation and waste collection practices. “We hardly saw any litters on the streets,” she added. Instead of comprehensive yet complicated rules, the community introduced simple, practical rules that are unlikely to confuse and be resisted by the majority of residents who are not used to waste segregation. As these rules were agreed upon and enforced by the community members, they took effect quickly. For example, the pilot areas only separated wastes into 1) ‘recyclable’ waste with market value and 2) ‘all other wastes’, which must be placed in properly designated areas, instead of segregating them into at least 4-5 (or more) categories as is done in advanced countries.