MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged ASEAN member states to translate the region’s $4.3-trillion economy into tangible benefits for its people, calling for accessible artificial intelligence for small businesses, enhanced food security, and stronger regional cooperation during the 2026 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.
Speaking via video message, Marcos highlighted the economic scale of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“In 2025, ASEAN’s combined economy reached approximately $4.3 trillion. That scale gives us a strong foundation,” Marcos said.
“Our responsibility is to translate it into greater opportunity, more productive businesses, better jobs, and more secure livelihoods for our people,” he added.
To achieve this, the President called on technology companies to broaden access to advanced technology for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“To our technology companies, help make useful tools affordable and accessible,” he stated.
Marcos noted that the Philippines is actively pioneering approaches that integrate artificial intelligence into MSMEs alongside practical training to reduce repetitive tasks, optimize resource efficiency, and expand market reach. He also encouraged established corporations to open their supply chains and share expertise with smaller enterprises to improve competitiveness.
Beyond technology, Marcos emphasized responsible artificial intelligence as a key priority under the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship, highlighting regional research cooperation for ethical and equitable applications in health care to strengthen medical professionals and improve service delivery.
On food security, the President pointed to the proposed ASEAN Food Security Alliance as a vital mechanism to reinforce agricultural cooperation, secure dependable food supplies, and support rural livelihoods.
He concluded by calling for reliable energy, efficient infrastructure, and deeper regional integration, as the Philippines prepares to hand over the ASEAN chairship to Singapore while pledging ongoing support for established regional initiatives.