WOMEN entrepreneurs are being positioned at the center of Southeast Asia’s next phase of economic integration as the Philippines prepares to host the 2nd ASEAN Women Economic Summit (AWES) in November.
Organized by the Women’s Business Council Philippines (WomenBizPH) with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines, the summit will focus on women’s participation in the region’s digital economy, innovation-driven industries and transition toward more resilient growth.
WomenBizPH presented the agenda during a press conference Wednesday that also included the signing of contracts with media partners, including The Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star and Daily Tribune and others.
The summit, scheduled for Nov. 10 at Okada Manila, carries the theme “Weaving the ASEAN Future: Women Driving Innovation, Integration, and Inclusion.”
WomenBizPH Chairperson Rhoda Castro-Caliwara said AWES will bring together government officials, business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs to discuss ASEAN’s economic direction and the role of women in that transition. She stressed that such a summit happens only once every 11 years--adding that this is now extended by one more year because of the addition of Asean's latest member state, Timor-Leste.
Responding to a question from The Manila Times on cross-border trade, WomenBizPH President Rosemarie Bosch-Ong pointed to implementation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, or DEFA.
“For women-owned and women-led micro, small and medium enterprises, the digital economy presents both an opportunity to reach larger markets … we recognize the barriers that can prevent them from participating in regional trade, and the conditions needed for businesses to operate across borders,” Bosch-Ong said.
The summit will examine those conditions, including cybersecurity and predictable regulations, data protection while maintaining national data sovereignty, digital identity and authentication, and ethical artificial intelligence and responsible data practices, as well as green transition, energy cooperation, food security and the blue economy.
WomenBizPH has been connecting local women entrepreneurs with Asean markets through its Women Strong Network trade fairs in Davao, Cebu and Metro Manila. The programs have included efforts to introduce entrepreneurs to a program called Asean Access and prepare them for regional markets.
"We will have showcases of from the Asean members and local members to bring the best products from each region and province to show to the world," Castro-Caliwara said adding that the trade exhibit will encourage small-business competitiveness and human capital development.
She also announced the return of the WomenBizPH Babae Awards, which recognizes Filipino women for leadership and contributions to communities and society. The wider AWES program will also include the Amazing Weaves Distinction Awards, business-to-business matching and a tourism program.
Women’s participation in STEM, digital entrepreneurship, digital platforms and leadership will form part of the future workforce discussion, along with skills mobility, digital credentials, remote work, artificial intelligence, automation and lifelong learning is an important highlight of the summit, according to Bosch-Ong.
“But the summit is genderless,” Bosch-Ong commented, adding that it will examine “the care economy and health infrastructure, treating health systems as part of economic infrastructure and the care sector as a potential workforce multiplier.”
For Castro-Caliwara, the challenge is turning the broad agenda into opportunities that businesses can use beyond the summit.
“The challenge will be translating the policy into practical opportunities for women entrepreneurs, particularly those operating outside major business centers,” Castro-Caliwara said.
She said this means connecting women-led enterprises not only to domestic markets but also to the policies, financing, digital infrastructure, skills and business networks needed to participate in an increasingly integrated Asean economy.
