PH eyed as Asean MSMEs hub
THE Philippines is being positioned as the site of the first hub for micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development in the region, the Philippine Business Advisory Council (BAC) for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) said. In a statement, Asean-BAC Chairman Joey Concepcion said the Asean Center for MSME Development would be one of the legacy projects of the Philippines' chairmanship of Asean in 2026. Concepcion recently met with Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty to seek the support and guidance of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the establishment of the Asean Center for MSME Development, which will be a regional government and private sector initiative. "The Asean Center for MSME Development is envisioned to serve as a physical center for entrepreneurship mentors, a hub for capacity-building, and a way to help expand the network of MSMEs while increasing their knowledge of best practices," Concepcion said in a statement. "It is also hoped that the center will increase the awareness of the Asean among ordinary Filipinos, especially as the country is set to host the Asean Summit in 2026," he added. Concepcion said that proponents of the initiative have yet to come up with a final conceptual framework that their respective governments, in consultation with the private sector, will have to approve. Once approved, he said the concept would secure a declaration from Asean leaders. "The cooperation between government and private sector in MSME development puts the country in an ideal position to host the center," said Concepcion, who is also the founder of the non-profit Go Negosyo which has promoted entrepreneurship among Filipinos for 20 years now. "If realized, the center will be the Philippines' second such regional center for excellence, the other being the Asean Center for Biodiversity," he added. The Asean-BAC was launched in April 2003 with a mandate to provide private sector feedback and guide regional efforts toward economic integration. The council was also tasked to identify priority areas for consideration by Asean leaders. There are 70 million MSMEs in Asean, accounting for 97.2 percent to 99.9 percent of the total establishments in the region. MSMEs contribute 85 percent of employment in the region, as well as 44 percent of the regional gross domestic product and 18 percent of national exports.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Philippines is being positioned as the site of the first hub for micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development in the region, the Philippine Business Advisory Council (BAC) for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) said.
In a statement, Asean-BAC Chairman Joey Concepcion said the Asean Center for MSME Development would be one of the legacy projects of the Philippines' chairmanship of Asean in 2026.
Concepcion recently met with Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty to seek the support and guidance of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the establishment of the Asean Center for MSME Development, which will be a regional government and private sector initiative.
"The Asean Center for MSME Development is envisioned to serve as a physical center for entrepreneurship mentors, a hub for capacity-building, and a way to help expand the network of MSMEs while increasing their knowledge of best practices," Concepcion said in a statement.
"It is also hoped that the center will increase the awareness of the Asean among ordinary Filipinos, especially as the country is set to host the Asean Summit in 2026," he added.
Concepcion said that proponents of the initiative have yet to come up with a final conceptual framework that their respective governments, in consultation with the private sector, will have to approve.
Once approved, he said the concept would secure a declaration from Asean leaders.
"The cooperation between government and private sector in MSME development puts the country in an ideal position to host the center," said Concepcion, who is also the founder of the non-profit Go Negosyo which has promoted entrepreneurship among Filipinos for 20 years now.
"If realized, the center will be the Philippines' second such regional center for excellence, the other being the Asean Center for Biodiversity," he added.
The Asean-BAC was launched in April 2003 with a mandate to provide private sector feedback and guide regional efforts toward economic integration. The council was also tasked to identify priority areas for consideration by Asean leaders.
There are 70 million MSMEs in Asean, accounting for 97.2 percent to 99.9 percent of the total establishments in the region.
MSMEs contribute 85 percent of employment in the region, as well as 44 percent of the regional gross domestic product and 18 percent of national exports.
