Jakarta, May 7 -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is encouraging increased participation of local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enable them to penetrate the global market and strengthen the region's economic competitiveness.

According to the 2026 ASEAN Philippines press release accessed in Jakarta, Thursday, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Allan Gepty highlighted the economic goal of ASEAN to keep trade going amid the Middle East crisis.

"ASEAN is an economic community which is positioned not only as a market but also as a production hub," he said.

Gepty explained that one of the important trade agendas of ASEAN is inclusivity that includes integrating micro, small, and medium ...