The Philippines is pushing for a more inclusive digital economy across Southeast Asia, arguing that the region’s digital transformation will fall short unless it creates tangible opportunities for the millions of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that form the backbone of ASEAN economies.
Speaking at the ASEAN Tech Summit Manila 2026, ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Philippines Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III said technology should not merely make businesses more efficient. It should make economic growth more inclusive, particularly for women entrepreneurs and small business owners who often struggle to access financing and larger markets.
“We want to have an inclusive economy. Many of these people who are in micro business are women. These are the people we must help,” Concepcion said.
He noted that digital platforms, financial technology and e-commerce are lowering barriers that have long prevented small businesses from expanding beyond their local communities.
“Digitalization has done wonders by providing access to markets, fintech, and these new technologies. This will enable our entrepreneurs to scale up. ASEAN will only be successful if we truly make it inclusive,” he said.
His remarks reflect a broader shift in ASEAN’s digital agenda. Rather than focusing solely on building digital infrastructure, policymakers are increasingly emphasizing how technology can help smaller enterprises compete alongside larger companies in a rapidly integrating regional economy.
Concepcion said ASEAN-BAC Philippines wants the country’s ASEAN chairmanship to translate into practical benefits for ordinary Filipinos, particularly those at the “bottom of the pyramid.”
He pointed to Go Negosyo’s Trabaho at Negosyo initiative, which provides free entrepreneurship mentoring and job matching nationwide, as an example of how technology and mentorship can widen economic participation.
Meanwhile, ASEAN-BAC Philippines Senior Adviser for Digital and AI Josephine Romero announced the creation of the council’s first Permanent Working Group for Digital and Innovation, a move aimed at sustaining regional cooperation on technology policies.
She also highlighted the conclusion of negotiations for the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the launch of AMEN 2.0, a technology-enabled mentorship platform that will help MSMEs gain access to what Romero described as the “three Ms” of business growth—money, markets and mentorship.
For ASEAN, the message is increasingly clear: the digital economy’s success will be measured not only by unicorns and billion-dollar startups, but by how effectively it helps the region’s smallest businesses grow.
