ASEAN Economic Community And Small-Medium Enterprises: An English School Perspective
Abstract: Accounting for
30-60% of GDP of ASEAN member states and the largest source of employment for
all economic actors, small medium enterprises is a very important economic
actor in Southeast Asia. The SME sector in ASEAN, however, is confronted with a
wide-range of structural, financial and other challenges, among which are
limited access to finance, technologies and markets. ASEAN has many important
roles in developing SMEs. ASEAN institutions can guide, direct, and fund many
development programmes related to SMEs. Moreover, AEC, a new set of regional
liberalization package, will have important consequences to SMEs’ growth in the
ASEAN member states. Therefore this paper will ask the impact of AEC to SMEs in
ASEAN member states using English School Theory. It also asks the role of ASEAN
in promoting SME development toward AEC. In this paper, interview and content
analysis will do as the main data source. This paper concluded that ASEAN has
developed a comprehensive empowerment plan through Strategic Action Plan for
ASEAN SME Development but lack of coordination between ASEAN institutions has
hindered the full implementation of the plan.
Author: Verdinand Robertua
Journal Code: jphubintgg160005
