Governments should partner with international organizations, industry associations, chambers of commerce, and local NGO/SME support agencies in order to obtain technical expertise, financial support, and local knowledge.

International organizations

International organizations can offer regional knowledge-sharing and training workshops, provide funding support, help build local capacity, and organize technical cooperation arrangements between countries within the region. For example, UNESCAP created the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Transfer of Technology (APCTT) to promote the transfer of technology to and from SMEs in the Asia-Pacific region. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has hosted the e-ASEAN Public Key Infrastructure Forum, the Cyber laws seminar, and e-commerce programs to create business environments that support e-commerce development in the region and SMEs in international trade. It has also published a framework to assist countries with the development of e-commerce legislation. The International Network for SMEs (INSME)1 is an international association with a mission to stimulate trans-national cooperation, and public and private partnership in the field of innovation and technology transfer to SMEs.

Local industry associations

Local industry associations can leverage their existing membership base to diffuse information and create programs. Their specific know-how of the industry can help create workshops that are more relevant to the needs of SMEs and can highlight industry-specific benefits. They are a key local partner in encouraging ICT adoption by industry.

Local NGO/SME support agencies

Local NGOs and other SME support agencies can also help implement various programs. For example, they can create portals, provide training programs, help organize entrepreneurs at the grass-roots level, and provide low-cost or free ICT consulting services for SMEs.

In conclusion, the overall strategy targets entire industries that are most likely to benefit immediately from ICT, increases awareness on industry-specific and concrete benefits, decreases barriers to ICT adoption, creates locally relevant resources online, and partners with other organizations.