The Asia - Invest Programme was launched in 1997 as an initiative of the European Union to promote and support business co-operation between the EU Member States and Asia. The Programme provides assistance to intermediary organisations to facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between EU and asian companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as to strengthen the framework conditions to increase trade and investment flows between the two regions. The Programme will continue for another 5-year period from 2003-2007, with a budget for project funding of ?35 million, in which three main areas of activity will be pursued: (i) Business to business match-making and partnership building; (ii) Asian private sector development, and (iii) Institutional capacity building, networking and dialogue.