Angkas founder and chief executive Angeline Tham called on governments and international institutions to support local entrepreneurs in developing economies, citing the need for “guardrails” to ensure the digital economy is inclusive and sustainable.
Speaking at the 16th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Ministerial Roundtable in Geneva on Oct. 21, Tham, representing Southeast Asia and the Pacific as an UNCTAD eTrade for Women Advocate, said that while digitalization creates opportunities, it also intensifies competition against global players.
“Governments and international institutions must support local entrepreneurs during their incubation phase—making business registration easier, ensuring fair taxation, and prioritizing local players in digital infrastructure and procurement policies,” Tham said at the Palais des Nations.
“Without such guardrails, promising startups may never reach maturity,” she said.
Tham noted the experience of the Filipino motorcycle ride-hailing app Angkas in improving the lives of thousands of motorcycle riders through digital inclusion, adding that supporting local innovation drives both economic growth and social progress.
“The income that my bikers earn circulates locally—supporting families, education, and neighborhood economies,” she said.
“This is how digital entrepreneurship creates lasting social impact,” said Tham.
She cited the need for stronger support for women entrepreneurs, saying that women-led enterprises often reinvest more in families and adopt sustainable practices.
“When women succeed, communities rise. If we protect local innovators, change the mindset of what is possible, and champion women, then digitalization will truly become the engine of shared prosperity for our people and our planet,” said Tham.
The session, titled “Making the Digital Economy Inclusive and Sustainable through Cooperation,” focused on how nations can collaborate to ensure that digital transformation benefits all and supports global sustainability.
Angkas’ participation reflects its ongoing advocacy for inclusive digital growth and the empowerment of grassroots entrepreneurship.
