For too long, it felt that the grand economic pronouncements at high-level meetings seemed distant to the small entrepreneur. It is something I have expressed many times before. Being myself focused on tangible results – as I am sure many a struggling entrepreneur is – I understand how the frequently used jargon of these meetings can go over the head of the everyman. It might help explain why ordinary people feel less invested in these discussions.

Yet as the latest situationer from the Department of Trade and Industry attests, MSMEs remain the backbone of the Philippine economy. They still account for almost all (99.63 percent) of the establishments in the country and collectively generate more than half (66.57 percent) of the jobs. They remain, undoubtedly, the engines of inclusive growth.

This being the case, are we really falling short of helping our MSMEs? Is there something more that can be done for the family-run shops, the creative startups, the agripreneurs?

I reflect on this because next year, we will be front and center in the ASEAN as we take leadership of the organization. This is at a time of massive global shifts in geopolitics, economy, the climate and technology. At the recently concluded 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, it was clear from the speakers and thought leaders that the world is looking at Southeast Asia as one of the bastions of stability and growth in the coming years.

It’s a tall order, but I think the numbers bear us out. ASEAN GDP grew at an average of 3.9 percent over 2015 to 2024, a period of great disruption brought about by the pandemic and war, among other things. We now have a combined $4-trillion GDP, the third largest after the US and China.

The Philippine chairship next year is our opportunity to transform the promise of an integrated ASEAN Economic Community into a tangible reality felt in every workshop, storefront and farm across the region. For the private sector, which I will lead in 2026 as chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, the vision will be built on strategic pillars designed to empower our entrepreneurs for a new era of growth.

This is to dovetail with a larger vision of a just and inclusive digital transformation. The digital age, supercharged by AI, presents both the greatest opportunity and the most significant threat to our MSMEs and our workforce. We must ensure it instead becomes a force for inclusion, not a barrier. As our governments finalize the landmark Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which promises to add a trillion dollars to our regional GDP, our role as private sector advocates is clear: we must ensure MSMEs are prepared to claim their share. This means driving initiatives for widespread digital literacy, providing frameworks for MSMEs to adopt AI responsibly and building smart, user-friendly platforms that bridge the digital divide rather than widen it.

We can position our MSMEs as leaders in the green transition. Sustainability is a necessity for our collective survival and a gateway to new markets. Through initiatives like the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA) and an ASEAN Circular Economy Platform, we can empower our small agri-businesses with climate-smart technologies and help our small manufacturers adopt resource-efficient practices. We must see sustainability not as a cost, but as a competitive advantage that unlocks opportunities in the global green economy and secures our region’s food future.

We can tap the unrealized power of the women and youth sectors. Inclusive prosperity is at the heart of the legacy that the Philippine private sector wishes to leave behind after its chairship. We will champion the establishment of centers for empowering women entrepreneurs and rally the many capable Filipinas in business to a common end. We will revitalize and bring back the focus on youth entrepreneurs and invest in the future of ASEAN itself. We can focus on high-growth sectors dominated by MSMEs, like the creative industries and tourism, so we can generate quality jobs and build a vibrant, people-centered economy.

We will strive so that the 2026 chairship will be more than a series of high-level meetings and yet another reason to lament traffic jams in Manila. The tireless voices in government and the private sector will continue to advocate for the small business owner and build a future where every ASEAN entrepreneur is equipped, connected and empowered to succeed. We are not just navigating the future; we are building it together, ensuring that the prosperity we create is a prosperity truly shared by all.

Originally Published in Philippine Star