MARKET ACCESS THROUGH E-COMMERCE PROMOTION FOR WOMEN-LED SMES

Trade and Investment Facilitation

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Strengthening Women Entrepreneurship for Inclusive Growth

BACKGROUND

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.

DONOR

The Korea International Cooperation Agency

OBJECTIVES

  1. Enhance the quality, quantity, and relevance of trade promotion organizations’ business development services
  2. Strengthen capacities of women-led SMEs in identifying and integrating their products into the global market through e-commerce platforms

PROJECT SUPPORT

  1. Capacity Building
  2. Platform Building
  3. Tailored Trainings
  4. Market Study

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

  1. Improved export market information for women-led SMEs
  2. Enhanced capacity of women-led SMEs to expand businesses through e-commerce

ACTIVITIES

Year 1: Assessment of Mekong-Republic of Korea Export Market Trends

  • Market Entry Study in the Republic of Korea
  • Baseline Study in CLMV
  • 1stTraining on “Entrepreneurship Development Through E-Commerce Promotion”

Year 2: Facilitation of E-Commerce Promotion in Mekong Countries

  • 2ndTraining on “Entrepreneurship Development Through E-Commerce Promotion”

Year 3: Project Monitoring and Evaluation

  • 3rdTraining on “Entrepreneurship Development Through E-Commerce Promotion”
  • Project Impact Evaluation

TARGET SECTORS

Women business groups, export associations, government ministries in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Project Duration : 2020 - 2022

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.