KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia— President Marcos has urged fellow participating countries to strengthen the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in order to unlock more economic opportunities, especially for small businesses.


Marcos underscored that the early expansion of RCEP, the world’s largest free trade agreement, will not only deepen regional integration and reinforce supply chain resilience, it will also reaffirm ASEAN’s central role in shaping the region’s economic future.


He stressed that RCEP holds great promise for the region, but its success ultimately depends on how effectively the parties translate the agreement into opportunities on the ground.


"Businesses, especially our micro, small, and medium enterprises, must be empowered to understand and utilize RCEP as a tool for trade and investment," Marcos said at the 5th RCEP Leaders’ Summit on Monday, Oct. 27.


"As such, the Philippines encourages all RCEP Parties to step up cooperation on awareness-building and capacity development," Marcos added.


In his intervention, Marcos cited the Philippines' hosting of an international trade forum in one of its key economic hubs to bring RCEP closer
to local businesses where government representatives engaged directly with stakeholders, helping to demystify the agreement and highlight its benefits.


"Building on this model, the Philippines would be pleased to work with other RCEP Parties to organize a regional campaign, as a platform for dialogue, business-matching, and collaboration, ensuring that RCEP delivers real and measurable outcomes for the region," he said.


The President emphasized that "these efforts are essential if we are to unlock the full value of the agreement and broaden economic opportunities across our economies."


“The five years since the signing of the agreement have been a time of profound transformation in the global economic and geopolitical landscape,” Marcos said.

 
“Amidst today’s global uncertainties, which include shifts to inward trade policies, ASEAN’s commitment to a rules-based
trading system remains our strongest anchor,” the President added.
 

He also underscored that RCEP must not only respond to today’s challenges, it must also anticipate tomorrow’s opportunities, particularly in digital trade, the creative economy, green transition, and innovation.

 
"By deepening our cooperation in these areas, we can ensure that RCEP remains a dynamic and responsive framework that delivers prosperity to all our peoples," Marcos said.