About 17,500 Philippines-based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are targeted to be enrolled in the two-year AI (artificial intelligence) for MSME Advancement in ASEAN (AIM ASEAN) program starting this November.

The ASEAN Foundation said nine Southeast Asian organizations have been identified to lead domestic implementation, with impact enterprise Limitless Lab tapped to help MSMEs from the Philippines.

“The beneficiaries are open to various sectors and include micro, small and medium enterprises. These sectors range from retail, agriculture, manufacturing, services, and others,” the ASEAN Foundation said in a statement sent to the Philippines News Agency.

The program, eyed to benefit about 100,000 MSMEs in the region, will be implemented with the help of the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) through the AI Opportunity Fund: Asia Pacific, and with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The ASEAN Foundation, in a press release, explained that “small businesses are the backbone of Southeast Asia’s economy” but noted that “in today’s fast-changing digital landscape, many MSMEs risk being left behind, especially when it comes to using AI to grow their business.”

“The training sessions will focus on hands-on, practical uses of AI, such as streamlining operations, boosting online sales, or managing finances more effectively, helping MSMEs tap into AI technology that can make a real difference to their day-to-day work,” it said.

“By helping business owners learn how to use AI in practical ways, AIM ASEAN supports the long-term economic vision laid out in ASEAN Vision 2045, which calls for a stronger, more connected, and inclusive regional economy.”

Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO at AVPN, said building an AI-ready workforce “is no longer a ‘nice-to-have,’ it’s a shared social mandate that governments, businesses, and impact organizations must act on together.”

“Through the AI Opportunity Fund, AVPN is working with local impact partners who bring deep community insights and sector knowledge to ensure AI upskilling is both relevant and scalable. By strengthening these on-the-ground efforts, we aim to catalyze a digital transition that ensures all workers can benefit as Southeast Asia moves towards an AI-enabled economy,” Batra added. (PNA)