When I was first asked to represent the Philippines in the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), I knew I had to say yes. As someone who has long advocated for MSMEs through Go Negosyo, I saw ASEAN-BAC as a natural extension of my mission – this time, on a regional platform. The opportunity to serve not just the country but also to help uplift the lives of millions of entrepreneurs across Southeast Asia was a responsibility I could not turn down.

Beyond this, there was also the fact that my father, Jose “Joecon” Concepcion Jr., was instrumental in putting the private sector to work to achieve ASEAN’s goal of peace and harmony in the region by helping each member-nation become prosperous.

From the recollection of the prominent Filipino industrialist Ricardo Guevarra, Joecon was first looped into the initiative by businessman Ramon del Rosario. Sure, there were bigger names in business back then, but Dad was widely known as someone who had the sense of purpose and dedication the group needed to achieve their vision of a regional private sector organization. Dad’s reputation also preceded him. They knew that once Joecon was committed to the cause, he would follow through. As people sometimes jokingly noted, the trick isn’t getting him to act; it’s getting him to quit.

The group of businessmen from the ASEAN nations would meet every six months in a different ASEAN capital, and Joecon would be counted on to be there every time that he became known as Mr. ASEAN. While it was a private sector organization, the members made sure to loop in the economic ministers to monitor the inevitable conflicts. The objective was to identify each country’s economic strength and then orient the region’s collective efforts towards these individual points.

Many years later, in 2001, ASEAN-BAC would be created to provide private sector feedback and guidance to boost the region’s economic integration. Each member-state appoints representatives from the business sector – typically accomplished entrepreneurs and business executives – to be part of the Council. The ASEAN-BAC’s mandate is clear: to ensure that the voice of business is heard in shaping the policies and priorities of ASEAN.

The ASEAN-BAC is not just an advisory body. It aims to bridge public and private sectors, enabling economic collaboration, breaking down barriers to trade and investment and promoting initiatives that support inclusive, innovation-led growth. It identifies key issues that affect business in the region, proposes concrete policy recommendations and designs legacy projects that have a lasting impact.

I think of these things as I sit down today, together with the leaders of the ASEAN-BAC, to regroup, assess and make preparations for 2026. It’s a tradition that goes back many decades, predating even the founding of the ASEAN-BAC. Back then, I am told, each meeting of the regional private sector group ended with preparations for the next one, and Joecon would be the one leading the preparations.

I suppose the ASEAN’s intent – to build Southeast Asia into a powerful bloc and a unified market – appealed to Joecon. He believed that regional cooperation was the engine that would propel the Philippines to industrialization, that competing markets could achieve more with cooperation.

Throughout my work with Go Negosyo, I have seen how economic empowerment changes lives. I’ve seen how a small business owner, given access to mentoring, markets and capital, can lift an entire family out of poverty. I’ve seen how digital tools can level the playing field for small entrepreneurs. These stories of hope and grit are everywhere in Southeast Asia – they just need the right support and ecosystem to thrive.

ASEAN-BAC can scale this impact. To take what we’ve learned here in the Philippines and share it with our neighbors, and vice versa. To collaborate on regional solutions for regional challenges – whether it’s in improving cross-border trade, creating a digital economy that works for all, achieving food security and agricultural productivity or building supply chains that include MSMEs, not exclude them.

In ASEAN-BAC, I found a platform that aligned with my belief that economic growth must be inclusive. That prosperity is only real when it uplifts not just the few, but the many.

I believe at the heart of ASEAN-BAC’s vision is the goal of inclusive prosperity – a sustainable, innovative and resilient prosperity for all. This means creating an environment where every ASEAN citizen – regardless of country, economic status or background – can benefit from regional growth. It means ensuring that MSMEs, which make up over 90 percent of all enterprises in ASEAN, are not left behind even as we pursue digital transformation, regional connectivity and economic modernization. To achieve this, ASEAN-BAC champions programs and examines policy reforms that make it easier to do business across borders and promote greater financial inclusion.

During the Philippines’ previous chairmanship of ASEAN-BAC in 2017, we launched the vision of “Prosperity for All” to signal a commitment to progress that reaches every corner of our region. As ASEAN moves toward its post-2025 vision, the role of ASEAN-BAC becomes even more crucial. The world is shifting rapidly, with climate change, AI and geopolitical tensions redefining the rules of engagement. In this era, business and government must work hand in hand. We must build a region that is not only competitive but also compassionate.

ASEAN-BAC will continue to advocate for a single market that allows entrepreneurs to dream bigger, scale faster and go further. It will continue to listen to the voices of our MSMEs, our farmers, our tech startups, our women leaders and the next generation. Their stories matter, and we will continue to bring them to the forefront of national, regional and global decision-making.

Inclusive prosperity is not a distant ideal. It is a choice we make every day, in every policy, every partnership, every project.

Originally Published in Philippine Star