Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are central to ASEAN’s economy, yet their participation in cross-border trade remains limited. While ASEAN remains globally competitive, especially in the Food and Beverage (F&B) sector, MSMEs continue to face barriers linked to non-tariff measures (NTMs), fragmented regulations, and uneven logistics — constraints that limit inclusive trade and restrict market access. The ASEAN Integration Report 2025, Challenges and Opportunities for ASEAN MSME Trade — Insights from the Food and Beverage Industry, examines how regulatory divergence, digitalisation gaps, and logistics inefficiencies shape the competitiveness of ASEAN’s F&B trade. The report highlights opportunities to strengthen the region’s trade ecosystem, such as harmonising labelling and halal standards, expanding digital sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems, and enhancing cold-chain logistics. These measures can help MSMEs — including women-led enterprises — engage more fully in regional value chains and unlock their potential in the F&B sector.
The research was carried out by IDEAS researchers, incorporating insights from policymakers, business associations, and industry stakeholders gathered through consultations and interviews in Malaysia and Thailand.
