The ASEAN Foundation has named nine organizations across Southeast Asia that will help implement its two-year AI for MSME Advancement in ASEAN (AIM ASEAN) program. The initiative, developed in partnership with AVPN through the AI Opportunity Fund: Asia Pacific and supported by Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations.
The program aims to equip small businesses with the tools and skills needed to integrate AI into their daily operations, making them more efficient and adaptable in a rapidly changing digital landscape. MSMEs form the backbone of Southeast Asia’s economy, but many are still navigating how to use new technologies effectively.
To support this, the ASEAN Foundation introduced nine local organizations that will deliver the program in each ASEAN Member State. These include Big BWN Project (Brunei Darussalam), Kenan Foundation Asia (Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia), KUMPUL Impact and Kaizen Collaborative Impact (Indonesia), XM Technovator (XMT) (Lao PDR), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS – ASEAN Student Association (UTP-ASA) (Malaysia), SMEHub Asia (Myanmar), and Project Asia Data (Singapore).
In the Philippines, the foundation will work with Limitless Lab starting November 2025. The partnership will focus on training Filipino MSMEs to integrate AI tools in their business operations. Limitless Lab has been tasked with delivering workshops and digital learning sessions to help participants apply AI solutions suited to their needs.
The AIM ASEAN program will train 100,000 MSMEs across the region by developing and adapting learning materials that reflect real business challenges. The training will focus on the practical uses of AI, such as improving operations, enhancing online sales, or managing finances.
“The AIM ASEAN programme represents a critical step toward equipping MSMEs with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in the digital era,” said Dr. Piti Srisangnam, executive director of the ASEAN Foundation. “It aligns closely with the aspirations of ASEAN Vision 2045, particularly in fostering a resilient and inclusive digital economy.”
The ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSMEs (ACCMSME) has endorsed the initiative, officially recognizing it as an ASEAN-backed program to promote small business growth.
“Building an AI-ready workforce is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’, it’s a shared social mandate that governments, businesses, and impact organizations must act on together,” said Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO of AVPN. “Through the AI Opportunity Fund, AVPN is working with local impact partners who bring deep community insights and sector knowledge to ensure AI upskilling is both relevant and scalable.”
Training sessions will be delivered through a mix of in-person workshops, online modules, and peer-to-peer learning. The curriculum will be tailored to reflect the needs of MSMEs in sectors such as retail, agriculture, manufacturing, and services, with modules covering AI-powered marketing, smarter e-commerce strategies, and financial management tools.
By helping small businesses understand and apply AI, AIM ASEAN supports ASEAN Vision 2045’s goal of building a more connected, resilient, and inclusive regional economy.