The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foundation plans to train more than 17,000 Philippine micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by 2027 to help them integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their business operations.
This initiative is part of the AI for MSME Advancement in ASEAN (AIM ASEAN) programme, a two-year effort led by the ASEAN Foundation in partnership with the Asian Enterprise Philanthropy Network through the AI Opportunities Fund: ASIA-PACE.fiC Step 2.
“Through AIM ASEAN, Limitless Lab will train at least 17,500 MSMEs across the Philippines by 2027,” the ASEAN Foundation said in an e-mail.
Social innovation company Limitless Lab has been used to implement the program, which aims to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills to accelerate AI adoption.
The group will design five localized training modules for small companies in sectors such as retail, manufacturing, agriculture and services.
The modules will focus on AI-powered marketing, e-commerce solutions and financial management tools, with sessions delivered through both online and on-site formats across the country. The training will include live and self-paced learning options to ensure accessibility across all sectors.
“Our ‘Learn-Apply-Scale’ approach ensures that every participant can immediately implement AI tools in their business after each session,” the foundation said.
It said the group is working with the Department of Trade and Industry, business organizations and cooperatives to broaden the reach of the programme.
MSMEs – considered the backbone of the Philippine economy – account for approximately 99% of all registered businesses in the country. However, many are constrained by limited access to AI tools, low awareness of digital solutions, and inadequate technical capacity.
“Many small business owners lack the knowledge to identify practical AI use cases or assess the return on investment for adopting digital systems,” the foundation said.
Challenges such as high implementation costs, poor internet infrastructure and unequal access to data and digital talent have also widened the gap between urban and rural. fiRMS.
“In the Philippines, AI can help small businesses operate more effectivelyfiSmartly, make better decisions and access wider markets, which in turn supports job creation and contributes to the digital and economic growth of the country,” it said.
The foundation said MSMEs can use low-cost or no-code AI tools to automate marketing, analyze customer behavior and improve fifinancial forecast. It underlined the importance of digital upskilling and responsible AI use as small businesses expand their digital operations.
Apart from the Philippines, the AIM ASEAN program also supports MSME digital development in Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore. , Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
