Planning and organizing the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit was taxing, yet one of the best experiences of my life. The grueling months of hard work all paid off as we welcomed the delegates on our first day last Nov. 12.
We started inviting all the state leaders in the first quarter of the year and all these months of coordination with their embassies made it possible for five out of 18 state leaders to attend. Even the attendance of business leaders and entrepreneurship advocates made the ABIS 2017 truly an insightful conference.
President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his support for micro and small entrepreneurs by adding budget to MSME development.
ASEAN BAC chairpersons welcomed Myanmar’s icon of democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, who discussed the empowerment of women and human capital development.
I launched the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network, which will create the largest pool of mentors across the region to better guide micro and small entrepreneurs.
Vice President Leni Robredo closed the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit with a message on poverty alleviation.
All these would have not been possible without the support of Tessie Sy-Coson, George Barcelon, and all the members of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. I also would like to thank the Go Negosyo advocates who have been with us since 2005, members of government, our mentors, and of course, my family.