The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) presented its recommendations to the region’s leaders as they met with the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) during the 58th AEM Meetings and Related Meetings last September 19, 2026. ASEAN-BAC Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III, along with ASEAN-BAC Philippines council members George Barcelon and Michael Tan, presented the recommendations and gave a progress report on the Council’s activities throughout the year.

Concepcion opened the report with the four main pillars of the 2026 Chairship, namely: People, Planet, Platform, Productivity. Under the theme "Advancing Prosperity for All”, these initiatives have been guided by the goal of inclusive and competitive growth. “The opportunity now is to make these mechanisms more accessible, more responsive, and more effective on the ground,” Concepcion said.

The ASEAN-BAC Chair presented the current activities under the People pillar, which focuses on empowering MSMEs, the potential of Youth and Women for the region’s economy, the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurship Network (AMEN) 2.0, and the digital youth platform, Mentoring ASEAN’s Next Advocates (MANA). 

The ASEAN Economic Ministers, together with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, during the 58th AEM and Related Meetings in Manila last September 19, 2026. In the photo are: (2nd Row, from left): ASEAN-BAC Malaysia Council Member Antony Lee Fook Weng, ASEAN-BAC Malaysia Council Member Dato' Charon Wardini Mokhzan, ASEAN-BAC Thailand Council Member Visit Limlurcha, ASEAN-BAC Thailand Council Member Vathit Chokwatana, ASEAN-BAC Timor Leste Senior Staffer Zelindo Engelbert F. S. D. Jordão De Araújo, ASEAN-BAC Philippines Council Member Michael Tan, ASEAN-BAC 2026 Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III, ASEAN-BAC Philippines Council Member George Barcelon, ASEAN-BAC Singapore Council Member Mark Lee, ASEAN-BAC Vietnam Senior Staffer Nguyen Thi Thai Li, ASEAN-BAC Indonesia Council Member Bernardino Moningka Vega, ASEAN-BAC Lao PDR Council Member Oudet Souvannavong, ASEAN-BAC Cambodia Senior Staffer Meng Nimol; and (1st Row, from Left): H.E. Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia (Alt. Minister); Dr. Marlar Myo Nyunt Director General, Foreign Relation Department Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations of Myanmar; ⁠H.E. Allan B. Gepty Undersecretary for International Trade Group, Department of Trade and Industry; H.E. Suphajee Suthumpun Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand (Alt. Minister); ⁠H.E. Augusto Junior Trindade Vice Minister of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste; H.E. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia (Alt. Minister); H.E. Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam; H.E. Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Secretary of Department of Trade and Industry; ⁠H.E. Gan Kim Yong Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) of Singapore; H.E. Dato Dr. Abdul Manaf Metussin Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia (Alt. Minister); ⁠H.E. Dyah Roro Esti, Vice Minister of Trade of Indonesia (Alt. Minister); H.E. Dr. Manothong Vongsay Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR; H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn Secretary-General of ASEAN.

Barcelon reported on the progress in digitalization and AI initiatives, under the Platform Pillar, highlighting the extensive roundtable discussions on MSME integration, AI governance, and the implementation of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA). Meanwhile, Tan presented the initiatives under the Productivity pillar, specifically on trade and the creatives economy, specifically the disciplining of non-tariff measures and the Council’s support for the ASEAN Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries. 

The Council also discussed the initiatives under the Planet pillar —centered on resolving food security and sustainability— showcasing the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA), a legacy program of the ASEAN-BAC Philippines, and the shift in business interests towards green energy seen in the Energy Crisis dialogues and ASEAN oil stockpiling research. The Council has also enhanced its own mechanisms, such as the assigned working groups and partner sectoral bodies, to provide strong capacity and sectoral engagement. 

The ASEAN Economic Ministers comprises trade ministers from each ASEAN Member State; the Philippines’ Trade Secretary Cristina Roque currently serves as chair. The recommendations from the Council will serve to guide their decisions, especially during the 49th ASEAN Summit this November.