MAKATI CITY (Nov 14): The Asean SOAR Together programme, initiated by the Asean Foundation in partnership with TikTok Shop, has scaled over 2,400 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Asean SOAR Together, which stands for Supporting Our Artisans and Retailers Together, is a training programme tailored to equip MSME artisans and social enterprises with digital capabilities, live selling tools and market access needed to survive in a Southeast Asian digital economy. 

Now in its second year, the 2026 cohort participants experienced approximately 700% increase in gross merchandise value, 600% increase in orders onTikTok Shop after trying live selling, 150% increase in revenue generated through LIVE sessions and 700% increase in TikTok videos views.

“Through Asean SOAR Together, the Asean Foundation and TikTok Shop aim to anchor Southeast Asia as the world's fourth-largest economy. And of course, to achieve this, our MSMEs cannot remain isolated bamboo stalks operating in silos. 

“They require an interconnected digital network, a digital backbone that links local craftsmanship directly to the original marketplace of more than 680 million consumers,” said Asean Foundation executive director Piti Srisangnam at the Manila Polo Club on Friday.

The programme is anchored on five strategic pillars, including digital capacity building and skill transformation through master classes and incubators, policy governance and compliance guidance, regional integration, direct incentive support and social impact.

This initiative also aims to empower MSMEs with the capabilities to navigate the unique e-commerce ecosystem within Asean, seeing as more consumers are moving towards digital spaces to discover products, content and community-driven recommendations. 

Additionally, considering that MSMEs make up about 99% of businesses across the Asean region, the Asean Foundation and TikTok Shop are leveraging their industry collaborations to address barriers to digital participation. 

“Our hope is that this perspective helps us better understand the support businesses still need to translate digital opportunities into meaningful outcomes. Our opportunity as a diverse Southeast Asia region is to invest in and unlock the potential of our people through collaboration, innovation, and the positive application of technology,” said Chanida Klyphun, the director of public policy for TikTok Southeast Asia. 

Asean SOAR Together also elevates local entrepreneurs into regional trade conversations. Outstanding SOAR alumni present their business cases to policymakers, investors, and industry executives at major regional events and gain access to the network created by the Asean Foundation and TikTok Shop. 

“This creates a cross-border peer network, a digital bamboo rhizome system where alumni across 11 member states share market insight and explore cross-border distributions,” said Piti.