Manila forum targets wider ASEAN markets for inclusive businesses

MANILA, Philippines — Businesses that integrate small producers, low-income workers and local enterprises into their supply chains could gain broader access to regional markets as Southeast Asian policymakers and business leaders meet in Manila to expand inclusive business across ASEAN.

Around 300 delegates are expected at the Ninth ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum on Sept. 22 at the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Hall in Pasay City.

Government officials, enterprises and development partners will explore ways to encourage more organizations to adopt and scale inclusive business models.

For workers, farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises, the initiative could help translate ASEAN economic integration into wider access to markets, procurement opportunities and higher-value supply chains.

The forum will focus on practical mechanisms such as public procurement, business coaching, impact measurement and cross-border partnerships that could help smaller economic players connect with corporate and government buyers.

The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry, is hosting the event with the ASEAN Secretariat, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the ASEAN Foundation.

The forum carries the theme, “Building Capacities for Inclusive Business: Advancing the ASEAN Framework for Talent and Institutional Development.”

The event will advance the 2025 framework by equipping government officials, private enterprises and Business Support Organisations with tools to scale inclusive business.

Inclusive business models generally seek to integrate low-income communities into commercial operations as workers, producers, suppliers, distributors, retailers or customers while maintaining business viability.

The forum will evaluate 10 years of regional progress in promoting inclusive business.

It will also examine ways to expand market access through social public procurement.

Participants will work toward establishing cross-border collaborative networks.

The forum will also review the draft Regional Roadmap for Inclusive Business Capacity Building and Talent Development.

The opening ceremony will feature ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSMEs Chair Trinh Thi Huong, Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, ESCAP Deputy Executive Secretary Shombi Sharp, and OECD Deputy Secretary-General Yasushi Masaki.

Morning discussions will bring together Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, SME Corp. Malaysia Chief Operating Officer Hilyati Muhammad Nasir, Brunei Economic Development Board Acting CEO Daniel Leong, Viet Nam Agency for Private Enterprise and Cooperative Development representative Trinh Huong, and Kennemer Foods CEO Simon Bakker.

The forum will also feature the release of the OECD publication, “From Margins to Markets: Powering ASEAN’s Economy Through Inclusive Business.”

The publication will highlight the economic output, supply chain integration and market impact generated by inclusive enterprises across Southeast Asia.

Another highlight will be the ASEAN Inclusive Business Awards Ceremony.

The awards will recognize outstanding inclusive business models from each ASEAN member state.

The honorees demonstrate how businesses can integrate low-income workers, smallholder farmers and local MSMEs directly into high-value regional supply networks.

Parallel working sessions throughout the day will provide tailored technical assistance to public- and private-sector participants.

Government officials will receive guidance on business coaching frameworks, social procurement policies and impact measurement metrics.

Enterprise managers will gain practical tools for assessing corporate inclusiveness.

They will also receive guidance on adopting disability-inclusive practices.

The sessions will further help enterprises understand how to qualify for emerging corporate and government procurement opportunities.

The focus on procurement is significant because government and large-company purchasing can create steady demand for smaller suppliers that often struggle to enter formal and regional markets.

Improving the capacity of MSMEs and community-based suppliers can also help them meet buyer requirements, demonstrate social impact and participate more consistently in larger supply chains.

The annual forum builds on policy commitments established during previous editions hosted by Indonesia in 2023, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 2024, and Malaysia in 2025.

The Manila gathering will continue that regional effort by focusing on the institutional skills, business capabilities and partnerships needed to move inclusive business from policy commitments toward broader implementation across ASEAN.