AI for MSME Advancement in ASEAN, or AIM ASEAN, is a regional programme that helps Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Southeast Asia use AI to grow stronger, more efficient, and more competitive. Led by the ASEAN Foundation in partnership with AVPN with support from Google.org and Asian Development Bank (ADB), the two-year programme will provide AI training to 100,000 MSMEs across all ten ASEAN Member States.

AIM ASEAN is part of the broader AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific 2.0, an initiative that aims to empower 720,000 workers and 100,000 MSMEs across the region by improving their access to practical AI skills and tools. Through AIM ASEAN, MSMEs in ASEAN will gain tailored, hands-on support to adopt AI in ways that meet their specific needs.

Each training module will focus on practical applications, including AI-powered marketing, e-commerce solutions, and financial management tools. These will be tailored to key business sectors such as retail, agriculture, manufacturing, services, and other priority sectors identified by ASEAN, and delivered by nine local implementing partners. Each training module will be delivered through a hybrid approach, combining in-person workshops, online learning platforms, and peer-to-peer support networks.

Beyond training, AIM ASEAN will also bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts through ten national roundtables and one regional policy convening to discuss how to better support small businesses in adopting AI.

By helping MSMEs unlock the potential of AI, AIM ASEAN supports the region’s shift toward a more inclusive, future-ready digital economy.