KUALA LUMPUR — The Philippines underscored its push for micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) development and food security at the 46th ASEAN Summit, with ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) Philippines chairman Joey Concepcion calling for stronger regional cooperation in agriculture and entrepreneurship.
Speaking during the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface on May 26-27, Concepcion introduced two key initiatives — the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA) and the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) — which will serve as legacy projects during the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.
AFSA aims to create a platform for regional collaboration in food and agriculture to combat poverty and improve food resilience, leveraging leading agribusiness players across the region. Meanwhile, the digital relaunch of AMEN is set to bolster MSME growth through enhanced mentorship and improved access to capital and markets.
“These initiatives reflect our belief that inclusive growth starts with empowering small entrepreneurs and securing our food systems,” said Concepcion, also ASEAN BAC co-chairman for 2025.
Alongside ASEAN BAC members George Barcelon and Michael Tan, the Philippine delegation also laid groundwork for cross-border partnerships, including ongoing engagements with regional agribusiness stakeholders and governments. A key outcome from the summit was a partnership between ASEAN BAC Philippines and Malaysia’s Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to promote AgTech adoption across ASEAN, facilitated by Concepcion’s Go Negosyo.
The summit also aligned with Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN BAC chairmanship under the theme “Unifying Markets for Shared Prosperity.”
The Philippines’ proactive positioning of MSMEs and food security at the regional level signals a pivot toward more inclusive and tech-driven economic policies. With food security tied to inflation management and MSMEs accounting for over 99 percent of enterprises in ASEAN, these initiatives could support broader regional macroeconomic stability, promote rural development, and help cushion economic shocks.
As the Philippines gears up for the 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, its leadership in digital agriculture and entrepreneurship aims to shape a more resilient, integrated ASEAN economy — with the private sector at the forefront of policy execution.
