MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News Service) — Are Filipino business enterprises ready for the ASEAN integration?
This was what a recent forum on the ASEAN integration, entitled the “Business of ASEAN”, tackled as it invited guests and speakers from the business sector as well as from the academe and government sector, to talk about the issue.
The forum which was about preparing SMEs or small and medium-sized enterprises for regional cooperation was convened by the Asia Society Philippines and the Asian Institute of Management ASEAN 2015 project, along with GO negosyo.
Among the guest speakers were international marketing expert and columnist Dr. Eduardo Roberto, VMV Hypoallergenics CEO Laura Verallo de Bertotto, and Sterling Paper and SL Agritech CEO Henry Lim Bon Liong.
While there are several business leaders who have raised concerns that many Philippine industries are far from ready for the ASEAN integration, still the outlook in the forum was positive for Philippine SMEs.
Dr. Federico Macaranas, ASEAN 2015 Project Leader of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) noted the dynamism of the ASEAN market.
“ASEAN, being interconnected to the global market is really a very, very dynamic global market. We change with the world. Make for good businesses as entrepreneurs,” Macaranas said.
Macaranas said that the Philippine businesses can benefit also with partnering with other ASEAN dialogue partners like Japan, Korea and China, as well as with Europe, Australia, India and the US.
He said the process on ASEAN integration is very complicated, starting with the creation of a single market and production base, creating a competitive economic region, creating equitable economic development, and finally the integration into the global economy of the ASEAN economic community.
“So SMEs are very important for the equitable development of ASEAN. We can be integrated into the global community,” Macaranas stressed during the forum.
He also noted the priority industries in the ASEAN region, namely agro-bassed products, air travel, automotive, e-ASEAN, electronics, fisheries, healthcare, rubber based products, textiles and apparel, tourism, wood-based products, and logistics service.
Meanwhile, VMV Hypoallergenics CEO Laura Verallo De Bertotto said it is important for Philippine business enterprises and SMEs to take their blinders off. She said a “blinders” mindset would put Philippine SMEs at a disadvantage.
“If you are going to enter a business or sell in ASEAN with your blinders on, but the rest of the world is taking their blinders off… I don’t know what to tell you what to do but please don’t keep your blinders on. Challenge yourself to study outside your comfort level, “ De Bertotto said.
The dialogue focused on how SMEs can improve the quality of their products and services and raise the standards of local enterprises against international guidelines.
The understanding ASEAN series is a continuing lecture series of the Asia Society in cooperation with the Asian Institute of Management ASEAN 2015 project. The third lecture discussion of the series will be held in December 2014. (Eagle News Service)
