ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN ASEAN AND JAPAN

Supported by the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN ACCESS, East Asia Business Council, and Lao Business Women Association

About

The ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs Program is a series of events that focus on gathering the young women entrepreneurs in to discuss the challenges and opportunities for scaling their businesses and foster greater cooperation between women entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan, a key emphasis is placed on empowering young women entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan. The program will be divided into 2 main activities: the Roundtable Discussion of Young Women Entrepreneurs in Vientiane, Lao PDR (2024), and the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2025).

The ASEAN-Japan Roundtable Discussion of Young Women Entrepreneurs is a 2-day discussion that will convene about 30 women entrepreneurs and business ecosystem players in 10 ASEAN Member States and Japan to discuss: How can public and private sectors effectively improve digital inclusion, access to finance, and access to markets for women-led enterprises and MSMEs in ASEAN and Japan. The roundtable is co-organized by the ASEAN-Japan Centre and ASEAN Youth Organization in support of the 2024 Lao PDR ASEAN Chairmanship.

The ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs Summit 2025 will gather young women entrepreneurs in the region to discuss the challenges and opportunities for scaling their businesses and foster greater cooperation between women entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan. The Summit will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February 2025, with aims towards greater inclusivity by involving women entrepreneurs who face greater challenges due to lesser access to resources and who received the greatest impact, a key emphasis is placed on empowering young women entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan.

The findings and key takeaways from the Roundtable Discussion of Young Women Entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan to gather and stocktake data prior to the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs Summit 2025 and to supplement the report in the succeeding Summit in February 2025.

Roundtable Discussion of Young Women Entrepreneurs in ASEAN and Japan

Call for applicants

Objectives of the event:

1. To provide a platform for female entrepreneurs and business ecosystem players to engage with other women entrepreneurs in other AMS and Japan;
2. To foster economic resilience and sustainable development of women-owned enterprises in ASEAN and Japan.

By highlighting contextualized insights and actionable strategies, this roundtable will bring fresh insights into the current challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs, fostering economic resilience and sustainable development across ASEAN. The findings of the discussions will be consolidated in a report and will be launched in the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs’ Summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February 2025.

• Date                      : Monday-Thursday, November 4-7, 2024
• Location  : Vientiane, Lao PDR, and online hybrid
• Timeline :

20 – 30 September 2024	Call for applications
1 –  October 2024	Applications assessment and selection
1 – 6 October 2024	Shortlisted participant confirmation
10 October 2024	Announcement of selected participants
28 October 2024	Participants online onboarding
4 November 2024	Arrival
5 – 6 November 2024	Roundtable Discussion
7 November 2024	Departure

• Themes (Panel Discussion)

　　a. Enhancing Connectivity
　　　i. Financial inclusion and gender-smart investments
　　　ii. Digital skills, literacy, and safe participation in digital spaces
　　b. Enhancing Resilience
　　　i. Closing the gender divide in women’s entrepreneurship
　　　ii. Sustainable practices and empowering women entrepreneurs

• Benefits

　　a. Networking opportunities with fellow women entrepreneurs and business ecosystem players from Southeast Asia and Japan;
　　b. Fully funded, which includes round-trip economy flight tickets, accommodation, meals, and transportation in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

• Eligibility criteria

1. Women entrepreneurs from the ASEAN Member States and Japan aged 25-35 years old; and
2. Able to meaningfully participate and commit to the series of activities, including providing meaningful responses and insights; and
3. Have established profitable businesses, including from MSME industries and social enterprises in the ASEAN Member States and Japan; or
4. CEOs of enterprises using e-commerce or tech startups, or social enterprises from urban and rural regions in the ASEAN Member States and Japan.

• Requirements:

1. Personal data
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Enterprise data
4. Enterprise profile
5. A video of your company profile (if any)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30 SEPTEMBER 2024, 17:00 GMT+7 Jakarta Time
Link to the form: bit.ly/RTD-Registration

For more information, please email us at ajywes@aseanyouth.net