KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- TikTok Shop has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Southeast Asia by working closely with ASEAN governments, ministries and agencies to accelerate their digital transformation journey.
In a statement, TikTok noted that as MSMEs form the backbone of ASEAN's economy, contributing significantly to employment, innovation and growth, the platform would continue to innovate to help enterprises unlock their full potential through digital commerce and enhanced visibility.
"During the recent ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, in conjunction with the 47th ASEAN Summit, 11 MSMEs took the spotlight to share their transformation stories and conduct live selling sessions to ASEAN audiences, showcasing the power of digital commerce in real time.
"This included five entrepreneurs from the ASEAN Supporting Our Artisans and Retailers (SOAR) Together programme and six TikTok Shop sellers, each demonstrating how creativity, innovation, and digital tools are transforming small businesses across the region," according to the statement.
To address challenges such as limited digital access, low online visibility, and a lack of scalable strategies, TikTok Shop, together with the ASEAN Foundation and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia, launched the ASEAN SOAR Together programme.
The initiative empowered 50 MSMEs representing over 150 entrepreneurs across ASEAN, strengthening their digital business capabilities and competitiveness in today's technology-driven marketplace, particularly in growing their presence on TikTok Shop.
"The programme not only equipped them with essential tools for growth but also instilled the confidence to scale their reach and impact across the region.
The programme concluded at ABIS 2025, where five top-performing enterprises – MAGWAI (Philippines), LALAPIS (Thailand), Meatless Kingdom (Indonesia), Redlands Coffee (Vietnam) and Camb-Aha (Cambodia) – showcased their creativity, resilience and innovation.
Delegates, including Paya Besar Member of Parliament Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, Deputy Chairman of Indonesia's National Economic Council Mari Elka Pangestu and Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry George Barcelon visited TikTok Shop's booth to witness live selling demonstrations by the MSMEs and expressed appreciation for TikTok Shop's efforts in uplifting small businesses.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Policy for Southeast Asia at TikTok, Chanida Klyphun, said TikTok Shop remained deeply committed to supporting the digital transformation and upskilling of MSMEs, noting that the ASEAN SOAR Together programme exemplified how TikTok had empowered these businesses.
She explained that through a combination of training, real-world application and curated exposure opportunities across ASEAN, they were empowering entrepreneurs with the tools and opportunities to help them thrive digitally, while enabling them to harness the power of TikTok Shop's unique discovery-to-purchase ecosystem.
“We are heartened by early successes where participating sellers have seen a robust increase in sales and conversion rates after applying insights learnt from the programme and engaging in live selling,” she said.
Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation Dr Piti Srisangnam noted that their presence at ABIS 2025, concurrent with the 47th ASEAN Summit, provided a powerful platform to demonstrate the tangible success of their capacity-building efforts.
“Seeing our MSMEs, the backbone of the ASEAN economy, showcase their growth and digital resilience on this international stage is a moment of immense pride. This success validates the ASEAN SOAR Together programme and the unwavering commitment of our partner, TikTok Shop, in equipping these entrepreneurs with essential e-commerce skills,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of ASEAN-BAC Malaysia, Tan Sri Nazir Razak, said the ASEAN SOAR Together programme exemplified effective collaboration in advancing ASEAN’s digital economy.
He noted that through the partnership between TikTok Shop, the ASEAN Foundation and ASEAN-BAC, they had witnessed MSMEs strengthening their digital capabilities and competitiveness across the region.
“The outcomes showcased during ABIS 2025 highlighted how targeted initiatives can drive inclusive growth and empower entrepreneurs, especially women and youth, to contribute to ASEAN’s sustainable economic development,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
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