By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged Asia-Pacific economies to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and support digital trade to ensure inclusive and resilient growth amid global disruptions.
“By streamlining rules, investing in digital infrastructure and platforms, and equipping our MSMEs and workforce with the skills and tools they need to compete globally, we can secure our collective resilience and ensure that growth remains inclusive,” Marcos said at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea this Friday.
He highlighted the need for regulatory reforms, digitalization, and skills development to build “smarter and more sustainable supply chains.”
The President said the Philippines continues to strengthen its framework for public-private collaboration, citing the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines (Republic Act 11966) enacted in 2023, which he called a “landmark legislation” that fosters business confidence and investment.
“This law embodies our commitment to creating an enabling environment where private enterprises can actively contribute to domestic and regional development goals,” he said.
The President also encouraged deeper cooperation with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) to close investment gaps in energy, digital transformation, and infrastructure.
“We see the business community as our kabalikat, our steadfast partners, in building a more connected and resilient APEC region,” Marcos Jr. said.
He added that the Philippines supports the proposed new services agenda and the upcoming “Incheon Plan” under the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process, designed to address emerging challenges through fiscal innovation and climate resilience.
“Together, we can unlock the full potential of our peoples to foster peace, bolster shared prosperity, and build resilience across our region and beyond,” Pres. Marcos Jr. said.
The Chief Executive is in South Korea to join fellow Asia-Pacific leaders for the APEC Summit. He is also set to deliver a speech before top business leaders in the region later Friday, where he is expected to position the Philippines as a key investment hub.
Closing gender gap is ‘smart economics,’ key to growth
The Chief Executive likewise called on Asia-Pacific leaders to make gender equality a central pillar of economic recovery, describing it as not only a moral imperative but also “smart economics.”
“To be truly connected and resilient, we must also strategically invest in our people, especially in women and youth, who are important players in ensuring social and economic stability,” he said.
“Closing the gender gap, as our experience shows, is not only a matter of fairness; it is smart economics. Empowering women to participate fully in the economy could add as much as $28 trillion to global GDP (gross domestic product).”
He urged economies to take concrete action to address gender pay gaps and enable women’s full participation in the workforce.
Marcos also underscored the importance of building sustainable digital infrastructure and nurturing a future-ready workforce to ensure equal opportunities in the fast-changing global economy.
He cited the Philippines’ experience as one of the few countries in Asia with near parity in educational attainment and a growing share of women in management roles, saying APEC must sustain this progress through policy and collaboration.
Empowering women and MSMEs, Marcos said, “will unlock the full potential of the private sector while ensuring inclusivity.”
