Concepción made the call following the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Advisory Council conference, held in parallel with the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Along with council members George Barcelon and Michael Tan, the Philippine team, led by Concepción, promoted food security and the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises as part of the business agenda.

Addressing the 10 ASEAN leaders (plus East Timor) during the meeting, Concepción highlighted two key initiatives: the ASEAN Food Security Partnership and the ASEAN Entrepreneur Mentoring Network (AMEN). “The ASEAN Food Security Partnership will serve as a platform for regional cooperation on agricultural systems, and through it, we seek to combat poverty and enhance food resilience,” she stated.

Building on the success of AMEN, launched by the Philippines during its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2017, the partnership reinforces a regional approach to addressing food insecurity.

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