JAKARTA, 16 September 2021
The second batch of the ASEAN Solutions for Investments, Services and Trade (ASSIST) Train-the-Trainers Workshop for Indonesia was completed on 16 September 2021. The two-day training was organized due to the high level of interest to participate in the training from the Indonesian private sector. The first batch of ASSIST Train-the-Trainers Workshop for Indonesia was held on 7-8 September 2021, following the ATR and ASSIST Outreach Event on 6 September 2021. Participants from the two trainings consisted of representatives from the Indonesian Business Women Association (Ikatan Wanita Pengusaha Indonesia/IWAPI), Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kamar Dagang dan Industri Indonesia/KADIN Indonesia), ASEAN Manufacturers Network (AMN), SME business owners and legal practitioners in Indonesia. ASEAN Secretariat officers also joined the training as co-trainers. The training was organized by the EU-funded programme ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the European Union (ARISE Plus), in partnership and collaboration with IWAPI, and held virtually.
In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Ira Sofwan, Vice Chairwoman for International Relations, IWAPI, ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN) focal point for Indonesia said, “IWAPI thanks the EU and ARISE Plus for co-organizing this second batch of training and fully support this train-the-trainers workshop on ASSIST and other trainings such as this one. We must commit ourselves to share this knowledge and teach others, especially small and medium businesses, so that they have the opportunity to grow, compete and enter the regional market, and thus contributing to the full integration of Indonesia into the ASEAN Economic Community”.
Ms. Hasduna Putri Adamy, Expert under the ARISE Plus Regional Project, who was also the trainer for this training, delivered the welcoming remarks and encouraged participants to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by ASSIST to interact with ASEAN Governments in relation to intra-ASEAN cross-border trade issues. Mr. Paolo R. Vergano, Key Expert on Trade Facilitation under the ARISE Plus Regional Project, delivered the closing remarks and urged participants to use ASSIST and to inform their business and trade associations or other ASEAN enterprises about this pre-eminent ASEAN trade facilitation tool. He also conveyed that ARISE Plus and the EU remain committed to supporting ASEAN by providing technical assistance with respect to ASSIST and many other trade facilitation initiatives.
This training catered primarily to the private sector, and was designed to benefit and help participants to develop, organize and deliver training modules on how to use ASSIST, a free, online, non-binding and consultative mechanism that can be used by ASEAN businesses to lodge complaints via-à-via ASEAN governments in relation to intra-ASEAN cross-border trade issues (for Trade in Goods and Trade in Services). Simulation exercises using hypothetical case studies were also conducted in order to give participants a better understanding of the step-by-step ASSIST process. Participants of the training workshops are expected to become trainers in their own right and conduct future capacity building exercises on ASSIST to the benefit of their colleagues, members of their trade associations/business organizations, and fellow entrepreneurs. For this reason, these training workshops are conducted with smaller groups of participants, so as to maximize focus and individual involvement.
The ARISE Plus Regional Project will remain available to support the ASEAN private sector to advance ASSIST by holding regular outreach and awareness creation events, as well as training of trainers, in cooperation with the respective private sector stakeholders, gearing towards greater intra-ASEAN trade and regional economic integration.
