Business Competition on Digital Economy for SDGs
The 2nd KOREA-ASEAN Business Model Competition 2021 ON Digital Economy for SDGs

Tech start-ups from all ASEAN countries and international judges attended the competition via Zoom

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The Korea-ASEAN Business Competition for SDGs is an initiative of the ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation which was organised for the first time in January 2020 at the request of the KUKM, following the success of some Korea-Indonesian forums on different topics co-organised by ASEIC and KUKM since 2016, aiming at strengthening the cooperation between Korea and ASEAN countries for supporting green and social entrepreneurship in the region. This year, the 2nd Korean-ASEAN Business Model Competition on Digital Economy for SDGs was co-hosted by ASEIC, the Ministry of SMEs and Start-ups of the Republic of Korea, the KUKM with the support from HSF as part of HSF’s ASEAN Regional Project on Sustainable Consumption and Production.

Out of over 170 cleantech start-ups and SMEs from all ASEAN countries, 10 teams made it to the Grand Final.

HE Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs of Indonesia Teten Masduki opened the competition.

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In his opening remark at the Final, the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs of Indonesia HE Teten Masduki stressed the importance of SMEs in social development and sustainability. This year’s winner is HEAR ME from Indonesia. HEAR ME is a social startup that created the first Indonesian sign language translator with 3D animation to bridge communication for deaf people. Their social impact directly contributes to SDGs 4, 8, 10, 11 and 12.