The ASEAN Youth Economic Forum 2026 officially started on February 10, 2026, at Century Park Hotel, convening diverse young leaders, professionals, and key stakeholders from across the ASEAN region and Japan with the theme, “Building Resilient Futures: Youth-Driven Innovations for ASEAN-Japan SME Growth.”
The forum began with opening remarks from Mr. Naobumi Yokota, Minister of Foreign Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, who underscored the importance of resilience in achieving prosperity and stability in both regions through the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“Innovative ideas and bold actions are the way to achieve growth, and the youth are the driving force for this,” Mr. Yokota said, emphasizing the limitless potential of the young generation in shaping the social and economic development of ASEAN and Japan by building competitive and future-ready SMEs.
Across ASEAN, SMEs constitute the majority of businesses and generate most of the employment, making them a vital part of the regional economy. Despite this importance, these enterprises still face persistent challenges, including structural constraints, as they often lack the necessary policies and support that hinder their growth and competitiveness.
Following the opening remarks, Mr. Masayoshi Tamura, Chief Representative of the AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) Secretariat, highlighted that the fresh perspectives and creative thinking of next-generation leaders are essential to further solidify regional cooperation and address these SME challenges. He underscored the importance of including the youth in these dialogues to develop innovative, practical, and inclusive solutions.
Ms. Sarah Rauzana, chairperson of the ASEAN Youth Organization, set the tone of the forum by calling for systemic economic change that focuses on just transition and wellbeing, leaving no one behind — especially the youth.
“We are not too young. We are not powerless. We are not waiting for permission,” she said, stressing that the youth should not be merely symbols of sustainability but active leaders and decision-makers in shaping policies and developmental pathways.
This year’s AYEF places SMEs at the center of ASEAN-Japan economic development, emphasizing the critical role of youth-driven innovations, entrepreneurship, and policy engagement in strengthening SME resilience and advancing regional integration.
The ASEAN Youth Economic Forum 2026 is a three-day event in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
