Digital innovation, financial inclusion take center stage at 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit
The 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit brought together government officials, business leaders, and civil society representatives from across Southeast Asia to discuss ways to make economic growth more inclusive across the region.
The summit centered on the idea that a rising tide should lift all boats, emphasizing the importance of bringing together people from different backgrounds, industries, and sectors to help drive shared prosperity.
Shamina Singh, founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, said the summit provided an opportunity for people to pool their resources, talents, and skills in service of the region.
Among the speakers were Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who discussed how digital financial services can expand economic opportunities, particularly for small businesses.
Sazon highlighted how partnerships between government and the private sector can make the distribution of financial assistance faster and more efficient during times of crisis through digital banking and fintech platforms such as GCash.
She said beneficiaries could receive financial assistance directly through their mobile wallets or bank accounts, without having to spend time and money traveling to physical distribution sites.
Romulo-Puyat, meanwhile, stressed the need to strengthen policies and safeguards against cybercrime and raise public awareness about online scams as digital financial services become more widely used.
One of the summit’s highlights was its closing fireside chat featuring Hollywood actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie.
Jolie shared insights from her decades-long humanitarian work in Cambodia, which began after she visited the country to film a movie. She recalled being deeply moved by the resilience of the Cambodian people, who endured years of hardship and violence under the Khmer Rouge regime.
Her volunteer work with children in Cambodia eventually led her to adopt her eldest son, Maddox.
Another high-profile speaker was Broadway star Lea Salonga, who discussed the role of human creativity amid rapid technological advances and the growing use of artificial intelligence across industries.
Salonga said technology cannot replace human talent and creativity, particularly the creative abilities of Filipinos. She also demonstrated this through a musical performance for summit participants.
The event also highlighted the importance of supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises, or MSMEs, which play a major role in Southeast Asia’s economy.
According to the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, which organized the summit, there are more than 70 million MSMEs across ASEAN.
SM Investments Vice Chairperson Tessie Sy Coson said that despite the company’s growth into a large conglomerate, it continues to recognize the importance of small businesses, noting that MSMEs make up the majority of its mall tenants.
She emphasized the mutually beneficial relationship between large companies and smaller enterprises, saying their growth goes hand in hand.
Ayala Corp. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala also underscored the importance of adapting to changing consumer needs and market conditions to sustain business growth.
Meanwhile, new opportunities could emerge for Filipino businesses, particularly online sellers, with the expected signing of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, or DEFA, next week.
The agreement aims to facilitate cross-border digital trade, making it easier for businesses in the Philippines and other ASEAN member states to reach customers across the region. – ANC, The World Tonight, November 11, 2026