On January 29th, 30th and 31st, 2018, the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration, MOEA held a Presentation to Promote the FY2018 Plan for Helping SMEs to Develop the New Southbound Policy Target Markets, in Kaohsiung, Taichung and Taipei respectively. The aim of the Presentation was to help Taiwan's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop the business opportunities in the markets targeted by the New Southbound Policy. Representatives of several leading firms that have successfully marketed their products in the New Southbound Policy target markets were invited to attend the Presentations to share their practical experience and present their analysis of the business climate in the ASEAN member states. The Presentations saw a lively discussion and exchange of views, and demonstrated Taiwanese SMEs' commitment to developing the New Southbound Policy target markets.

The government has been working actively to implement the New Southbound Policy, with the aim of expanding mutual exchange with the ASEAN member states, with Australia and New Zealand, and with the countries of South Asia, etc.; the government is striving to promote regional development and cooperation, and to build a new economic development model for Taiwan. SMEs account for 97.7% of all business enterprises in Taiwan, and have played a key role in Taiwan's economic development. If Taiwan's SMEs can successfully develop the markets targeted by the New Southbound Policy, this will help to add renewed dynamism to Taiwan's economic development. To this end, the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration, MOEA is implementing the FY2018 Plan for Helping SMEs to Develop the New Southbound Policy Target Markets, seeking to use industry cluster alliances to enhance the overseas marketing capabilities of Taiwan's SMEs and help them to secure a firm foothold in the New Southbound Policy target markets, which offer enormous business opportunities.

The economies of the ASEAN member states, and their consumer markets, have been growing steadily, with a rapid increase in consumer spending power. In the near future, consumer goods and services will be the market segments offering the most potential for rapid growth in this region, a situation which should benefit Taiwan's innovative, flexible SMEs, helping them to establish a foothold in these markets. Through the Plan for Helping SMEs to Develop the New Southbound Policy Target Markets, the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration is providing guidance to help SMEs develop industry clusters, undertake collaborative branded marketing, develop new products, and tailor their business models to suit local conditions. The Plan will also foster collaboration between Taiwanese SMEs and collaborative partner organizations in target markets, helping to build a collaborative network to support SME development of the New Southbound Policy markets. In addition, the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration will be taking representatives of SME industry clusters to ASEAN member states to explore the potential for market development and the business opportunities first-hand, and will be organizing business matching events to help Taiwanese SMEs find local partners and access local business resources. The Plan also provides SME Diagnostics and Guidance Services for those SMEs interested in developing overseas markets and strengthening their international marketing capabilities. These services are tailored to meet the needs of individual SMEs, with advisors being assigned to undertake on-site diagnosis of the marketing and management issues that the SME needs to address, and to offer recommendations for improving marketing. This provision of individual guidance in line with the marketing needs of each SME will help to enhance overall marketing capabilities.

The Plan for Helping SMEs to Develop the New Southbound Policy Target Markets is focused on the markets targeted by the New Southbound Policy; it involves the identification and collation of the problems that SMEs are likely to face when entering these markets, and the provision of useful resources and services in line with SMEs' real needs. It is anticipated that the Plan will help Taiwan's SMEs to successfully develop the business opportunities presented by the New Southbound Policy target markets. For more information about the Plan for Helping SMEs to Develop the New Southbound Policy Target Markets and related services, please visit the Plan website: http://info.moeasmea.gov.tw/.