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ASEAN-JAPAN
ROUNDTABLE
DISCUSSIONS
OF YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
ASEAN-JAPAN
ROUNDTABLE
DISCUSSIONS
OF YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
4-7 November 2024 | Vientiane, Lao PDR
ASEAN-JAPAN
ROUNDTABLE
DISCUSSIONS
OF YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
4-7 November 2024 | Vientiane, Lao PDR
About
The ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs Program is a series of events that focus on gathering the young women entrepreneurs in to discuss the challenges and opportunities for scaling their businesses and foster greater cooperation between women entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan, a key emphasis is placed on empowering young women entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan. The program will be divided into 2 main activities: the Roundtable Discussion of Young Women Entrepreneurs in Vientiane, Lao PDR (2024), and the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2025).
The ASEAN-Japan Roundtable Discussion of Young Women Entrepreneurs is a 2-day discussion that convened about 30 women entrepreneurs and business ecosystem players in 10 ASEAN Member States and Japan to discuss: How can public and private sectors effectively improve digital inclusion, access to finance, and access to markets for women-led enterprises and MSMEs in ASEAN and Japan. The roundtable is co-organized by the ASEAN-Japan Centre and ASEAN Youth Organization in support of the 2024 Lao PDR ASEAN Chairmanship.
The ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs Summit 2025 will gather young women entrepreneurs in the region to discuss the challenges and opportunities for scaling their businesses and foster greater cooperation between women entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan. The Summit will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February 2025, with aims towards greater inclusivity by involving women entrepreneurs who face greater challenges due to lesser access to resources and who received the greatest impact, a key emphasis is placed on empowering young women entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan.
The findings and key takeaways from the Roundtable Discussion of Young Women Entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan to gather and stocktake data prior to the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs Summit 2025 and to supplement the report in the succeeding Summit in February 2025.
Roundtable Discussion Highlights
On November 5-6, 35 Young Women Entrepreneurs from across the 10 ASEAN Member States and Japan convened in Vientiane, Lao PDR, to address the challenges and opportunities shaping their businesses in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Organized by the ASEAN-Japan Centre in partnership with the ASEAN Youth Organization, the roundtable was supported by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSMEs, ASEAN Access, the East Asia Business Advisory Council, and the Lao Businesswomen Association.
🔑 Key Themes Discussed:
- Enhancing Connectivity: Entrepreneurs explored solutions to improve financial inclusion, encourage gender-smart investments, and develop digital skills and financial literacy to thrive in the digital economy.
- Building Resilience: Focus was placed on overcoming the gender divide in MSME ownership, promoting sustainability practices, and empowering women to lead socially and environmentally responsible businesses.
🏢 Site Visits to Successful Women-Owned Enterprises:
Participants had the opportunity to visit two leading women-owned enterprises in Lao PDR—Enterprise & Development Consultants Co., Ltd. (EDC) and Leuxay Construction Co., Ltd. These visits provided valuable insights into how women-led businesses thrive in Lao PDR, showcasing best practices and sparking potential future collaborations.
🚀 Key Challenges Raised.
- Access to Grants & Loans: Women entrepreneurs face challenges in accessing financial resources due to strict administrative regulations, competition with larger companies, and the inflexibility of funding solutions.
- Cybersecurity & Technology: Establishing basic cybersecurity measures, identifying suitable digital solutions, and ensuring that employees are equipped with the necessary skills to respond to rapid technological changes were highlighted as major concerns.
- Building Resilient Networks: Participants emphasized the importance of stronger women entrepreneur networks to support one another, close the gender gap, and enhance opportunities for women-owned businesses.
Credit: ASEAN Japan Centre
Roundtable Discussion Details
- To provide a platform for female entrepreneurs and business ecosystem players to engage with other women entrepreneurs in other AMS and Japan;
- To foster economic resilience and sustainable development of women-owned enterprises in ASEAN and Japan.
By highlighting contextualized insights and actionable strategies, this roundtable will bring fresh insights into the current challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs, fostering economic resilience and sustainable development across ASEAN. The findings of the discussions will be consolidated in a report and will be launched in the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs’ Summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February 2025.
- Women entrepreneurs from the ASEAN Member States and Japan aged 25-35 years old; and
- Able to meaningfully participate and commit to the series of activities, including providing meaningful responses and insights; and
- Have established profitable businesses, including from MSME industries and social enterprises in the ASEAN Member States and Japan; or
- CEOs of enterprises using e-commerce or tech startups, or social enterprises from urban and rural regions in the ASEAN Member States and Japan.
- Networking opportunities with fellow women entrepreneurs and business ecosystem players from Southeast Asia and Japan;
- Fully funded, which includes round-trip economy flight tickets, accommodation, meals, and transportation in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
- Personal data
- Curriculum Vitae
- Enterprise data
- Enterprise profile
- A video of your company profile (if any)
20 September – 7 October 2024 | Call for applications |
8 – 16 October 2024 | Shortlisted participant confirmation |
17 October 2024 | Announcement of selected participants |
28 October 2024 | Participants online onboarding |
4 November 2024 | Arrival |
5 – 6 November 2024 | Roundtable Discussion |
7 November 2024 | Departure |
Enhancing Connectivity
1. Financial inclusion and gender-smart investments
2. Digital skills, literacy, and safe participation in digital spaces
Enhancing Resilience
1. Closing the gender divide in women’s entrepreneurship
2. Sustainable practices and empowering women entrepreneurs
If you have any questions, please refer to the provided Frequent Asked Questions down below. If you still have questions not listed here, you may email us at ajywes@aseanyouth.net
