The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) private sector leadership this year will aim to bring the benefits of ASEAN economic growth to every citizen in the region.

Joey Concepcion, chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC), said this during the 10th joint economic briefing on Feb. 12, which gathered business leaders, government officials, and members of the European business chamber.

"The bottom line is to make growth inclusive; to inspire every ASEAN citizen that they, too, can move up the chain of prosperity," Concepcion said.

He stressed that progress is sustainable only if it is inclusive. Thus, in the upcoming ASEAN meet hosted by the Philippines, every entrepreneur must feel they are part of the business community.

“The goal of ASEAN will not work if we cannot reach the last micro entrepreneur, and give help and inspiration to them,” Conception said.

“This ASEAN hosting has to be inclusive; we have to inspire people and make them know that they are part of the entire business community, no matter how small they are,” he added.

Concepcion said he plans to bring the high-level discussions outside of the boardrooms and convention halls, and closer to the masses by livestreaming the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) in malls nationwide.

The Go Negosyo founder also said that the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN–BAC will champion pro-people initiatives by empowering entrepreneurs, creating jobs, and ensuring that economic growth creates real opportunities for every Filipino.

ASEAN-BAC’s 2026 chairmanship will be built on four strategic pillars: People, Planet, Platform, and Productivity, highlighting initiatives on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) empowerment, women and youth development, food security and green growth, digital and AI integration, and stronger trade and supply chain connectivity.

These efforts aim to convert policy into action, driving competitiveness while securing inclusive and sustainable growth across the region, Concepcion said.

“Our biggest challenge now is to scale up our MSMEs so they can contribute more to the Philippine economy; it is the way to create the path of prosperity, and we can make it more vibrant if we make it inclusive,” Concepcion said.

The 10th joint economic briefing was jointly hosted by the Belgian-Filipino Business Chamber, British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines, Spanish

Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Swiss Chamber of Commerce, German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, and the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

During the event, the private sector, government, and development

partners engaged in dialogue on regional cooperation and international partnerships.

This year’s forum highlighted the country’s economic outlook, trade developments, regulatory reforms, and investment potential, especially as the Philippines assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2026.