"ASEAN, counting over 480 million digital consumers, is primed to lead inclusive and sustainable digital trade. But MSMEs are historically subject to persistent barriers and exclusion from the benefits of digital commerce. Despite representing 95% of businesses and 60% of jobs worldwide, the sector currently faces a $5.7 trillion financing gap globally. The Public Forum of the World Trade Organization, held last 17 - 18 September 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, is the WTO's largest global outreach platform and brings stakeholders from around the world to discuss how the multilateral trading system can address key economic issues."
"A panel session, titled "Beyond Borders: ASEAN's Bold Paths to MSME Digitalization," was co-organized by the Philippine Mission to the WTO and GCash, the Philippines' leading digital finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem. It gathered perspectives and best practices on how to solve persistent challenges to MSMEs' integration into digital trade, convening speakers from GCash, Indonesian open-platform digital wallet DANA, and the Bank for International Settlements' (BIS) Innovation Hub. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Manuel Teehankee, the Philippines' Permanent Representative to the WTO, underscored that in ASEAN, "MSMEs form the backbone of our economies, but challenges persist.""
ASEAN has over 480 million digital consumers and strong potential to lead inclusive, sustainable digital trade. MSMEs constitute 95% of businesses and 60% of jobs globally but face persistent barriers, exclusion from digital commerce, and a $5.7 trillion financing gap. Financial technology firms, digital payments providers, and policy experts support accelerating MSME entry into the digital economy through practical innovations in accessibility and cross-border interoperability. The WTO Public Forum on 17–18 September 2025 convened stakeholders to examine how multilateral trade and digital transformation can address MSME integration into digital trade. A co-organized panel shared practical perspectives and best practices.
Read at South China Morning Post
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