E-commerce has opened opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to flourish and take advantage of new markets. In the Mekong region, Thailand and Vietnam’s e-commerce markets are growing at an exponential pace, while markets in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar have reflected steady progress in online business development. Despite these gains, many women-led SMEs, especially those from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam, have yet to fully harness their e-commerce potentials for broader market access and trade opportunities. 

Women-led SMEs play an important role in the economies of Mekong countries, as they contribute to increased innovation, competitiveness, and income. Nonetheless, studies found that women-owned businesses rarely grow from micro- to SMEs. This is because while women are working under the same regulatory and institutional conditions as their male counterparts, they are faced with additional barriers, ranging from social acceptability, family responsibilities, and more limited access to opportunities for growth.

To support the increased participation of women in utilizing e-commerce for wider access to markets, Mekong Institute, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam, is implementing the “Market Access Through E-Commerce Promotion for Women-Led SMEs” project. The three-year project aims to increase women’s income and employment opportunities through the development and expansion of export products from Mekong countries to the Republic of Korea.