Introduction to the
ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC)

The ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC) is the official voice of young entrepreneurs in the ASEAN policy-making process. It was successfully proposed by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) to the ASEAN Leaders in 2015 and later that year launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It consists of a network of government endorsed young entrepreneur associations from all 10 ASEAN Member States. Besides participation in the ASEAN Economic Integration process, AYEC also serves as a young entrepreneurs network, with direct connectivity with the respective national level associations and the ASEAN Secretariat. Besides participation in the ASEAN Economic Integration process, AYEC also serves as a young entrepreneurs network, with direct connectivity with the respective national level associations and the ASEAN Secretariat. AYEC is also provided a seat in the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Joint Business Councils (ASEAN-BAC JBCs), where proposals on young entrepreneurship are tabled to the official private sector representative in ASEAN. With that came about our ABAC-AYEC Policy Dialogue Forum (AAPDF) which aims to give voice to ASEAN’s young entrepreneurs and uniting key AYEC stakeholders behind a common agenda for the betterment of young entrepreneurship as a key engine of ASEAN’s innovation-led economic growth.

Under the AYEC is its inaugural event the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Carnival which moves around ASEAN every year following the calendar with its 6th continual carnival happening in Brunei this year in November, 2021. 

Under the governance of the AYEC, ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association (AYEA) was formed in 2016 to promote exchange and cooperation between young entrepreneurs and investors within ASEAN member states. Not only to drive and empower the young entrepreneurs, the association also looks forward to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of its members to strengthen the communication and relationship between corresponding governmental organisations and encourages its members to contribute to the development of ASEAN and international corporate development. This year we have officially launched our ASEAN Young Women Entrepreneurs Club (AYWEC), which operates under the AYEC as a voluntary socio-professional organisation of ASEAN Young Women entrepreneurs owning or managing businesses in all economic sectors. 

All national association members in the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC) are by appointment of the respective national ASEAN Member State (AMS) government, with 3 appointed representatives from each member association to sit in the AYEC.

The member associations of AYEC are:

1. Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei (YEAB)

2. Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia (YEAC)

3. Himpunan Pengusaha Muda Indonesia (HIPMI)

4. Young Entrepreneurs Association of Laos (YEAL)

5. Malaysian Young Entrepreneurs ASEAN Association (MAYA)

6. Myanmar Young Entrepreneurs Association (MYEA)

7. Philippines Young Entrepreneurs Association (PYEA)

8. Singapore Business Federation (SBF)

9. Thailand Young Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce

10. Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association (VYEA)

The ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC) was setup by a group of enthusiastic entrepreneurs from all over ASEAN, of which all had the same vision. To have one official place for young entrepreneurs to work together for the betterment of ASEAN business amongst us all. It was their handwork and determination that brought together AYEC.