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).