BEDB Launches National Implementation of AIM ASEAN Programme to Support MSME Growth through Practical AI Adoption

Bandar Seri Begawan, 28 January 2026 – For many micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), limited manpower, rising operational costs, and increasing market competition continue to constrain growth and scalability. Addressing these challenges, Brunei Darussalam has officially commenced the national implementation of the AI for MSME Advancement in ASEAN (AIM ASEAN) programme — a regional initiative aimed at equipping local businesses with practical artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to operate more efficiently, make better decisions, and strengthen long-term competitiveness. 

The AIM ASEAN programme is a regional initiative under the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME), led by the ASEAN Foundation in partnership with the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The BEDB is coordinating this programme in Brunei Darussalam in its capacity as the country’s Lead Representative to ACCMSME 

The program was launched today at the Design & Technology Building, Anggerek Desa Technology Park, marking the start of programme implementation in Brunei Darussalam. The programme targets 550 MSMEs across various sectors by May 2027, focusing on enterprises that are seeking to improve productivity, reduce reliance on manual processes, and adopt digital tools to support business expansion. 

By focusing on practical use cases, the programme positions AI as an accessible and cost-effective business tool rather than a complex or high-investment technology. This enables MSMEs to free up time and resources for higher-value activities such as product development, market expansion, and customer relationship building — strengthening their ability to scale sustainably in a competitive business environment. In the long run, adoption of the AI tools will benefit enterprises in various sectors, particularly retail and services, food and beverage, agriculture, and tourism. 

Delivered through 11 structured cohorts, the programme will provide MSMEs with sustained, step-by-step support to progressively build their AI capabilities and drive business growth through to May 2027. This cohort-based approach allows participating enterprises to gradually apply AI solutions within their operations, ensuring that learning translates into real, measurable improvements rather than one-off exposure to technology. 

Through hands-on training and guided application, participating MSMEs will learn how AI can be integrated into day-to-day business operations to address common operational pain points. These include automating marketing and social media content to maintain consistent customer engagement with limited manpower; improving customer service response times through AI-powered chatbots; managing inventory, sales, and operational data more efficiently; and using data insights to support better planning, pricing, and growth decisions. 

As the ACCMSME Lead for Brunei Darussalam, BEDB plays a coordinating and enabling role to ensure that the programme delivers meaningful outcomes for local enterprises. This includes providing strategic guidance, facilitating stakeholder engagement, supporting MSME outreach, and ensuring alignment between national enterprise development efforts and ASEAN priorities. In addition, a national policy dialogue and roundtable will be convened later this year to bring together policymakers, industry players, academia, and the business community to discuss AI adoption challenges and opportunities in the MSME context, contributing to evidence-based policy recommendations at both national and regional levels. 

The AIM ASEAN programme reflects Brunei Darussalam’s broader commitment to strengthening MSME resilience and supporting enterprise growth through responsible and practical adoption of emerging technologies. By enhancing MSME digital capabilities and productivity, the programme contributes to ASEAN’s digital economy agenda under the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) and supports the development of a trusted, interoperable, and inclusive digital ecosystem across the region.