Kuala Lumpur, March 2025 – Go Digital ASEAN, a regional initiative dedicated to broadening digital skills across Southeast Asia, has concluded its second phase, equipping 215,896 micro, small and medium enterprises with critical digital skills to grow their businesses.
Endorsed by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Go Digital ASEAN is implemented by The Asia Foundation with funding from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm.
Since its launch in 2020, the program has trained more than 400,000 individuals, 60 percent women, across its two phases. By providing targeted, practical training, Go Digital ASEAN has empowered both aspiring and established entrepreneurs to navigate the digital landscape with greater confidence. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have improved their understanding and ability to use online tools, deepened their financial knowledge, and enhanced their resilience against cyber threats, enabling them to unlock their digital potential.
MSMEs drive ASEAN economies, comprising 97 percent of the private sector, 85 percent of the workforce, and 45 percent of regional GDP. However, they remain vastly underserved in the digital economy due to fragmented policies on advancing digitalization. Many MSMEs have actively sought solutions to overcome obstacles to customer engagement, cybersecurity, and driving business growth online.
Tailored to support MSMEs at different stages of their digital journey, Go Digital ASEAN implemented three specialized training segments:
Go Digital: Equipping underserved business owners in Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam with basic digital skills to transition their businesses online.
Grow Digital: Providing businesses in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam with advanced digital skills, including e-commerce, cybersecurity, and AI adoption, to scale their business.
Explore Digital: Connecting businesses across ASEAN through a regional webinar speaker series, fostering peer learning and cross-border collaboration.
“Go Digital ASEAN is not just about developing digital skills. It’s about ensuring that every business owner, no matter where they are in ASEAN, has the tools to thrive in today’s economy—whether it be in safeguarding their business from online threats or utilizing digital tools to connect with customers and grow their business,” said Hannah Najar, regional program manager for Go Digital ASEAN.
“Google.org APAC is proud to support the impactful work of The Asia Foundation and its partners in the Go Digital ASEAN program, and to witness the transformative impact it is having by empowering MSMEs with essential digital skills to thrive in the region’s digital economy,” said Marija Ralic, head of Google.org APAC.
Working with local governments and training partners, the program has benefited MSMEs from various sectors and industries, contributing to their communities and local economies.
Key Insights on How Go Digital ASEAN is Transforming ASEAN’s MSMEs
Boosting Digital Confidence: 93 percent of participants said they feel more digitally savvy and have increased confidence in using digital tools for their businesses.
Driving Business Growth: 90 percent of participants said they learned new ways to do things to benefit their business and developed the digital skills needed to grow their business online and/or offline.
Demand for AI Skilling: 91 percent of participants said they applied what they learned from the training, and expressed strong interest in learning about online safety and AI tools to future-proof their business.
Go Digital ASEAN has continued to build a strong foundation for MSMEs to thrive in the digital economy, equipping them with essential skills and confidence to adapt to emerging technologies. As the program evolves, it will continue to work with partner to meet the growing skilling demands of MSMEs, including in AI, online safety, and other practical digital capabilities, further empowering local communities and driving sustainable growth across the region.
Read the full report on Go Digital ASEAN 2.
The Go Digital ASEAN initiative broadens digital skills participation across the region, reaching individuals and communities with the most to gain from digital literacy. Endorsed by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME), the program is implemented by The Asia Foundation with funding from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm.
The Asia Foundation is an international nonprofit organization working to solve the toughest social and economic challenges in Asia and the Pacific. Informed by more than 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, we work with partners across more than 20 countries through 17 offices to improve lives and expand opportunities.
Southeast Asia
Economic Growth, Go Digital ASEAN
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