The Asia Foundation’s Go Digital ASEAN initiative concluded its second phase, equipping 215,892 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Southeast Asia with essential digital skills to scale their business. In the Philippines, more than 6,300 individuals and small businesses received free digital training, with 77 percent reporting positive revenue growth.
Endorsed by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Go Digital ASEAN is implemented by The Asia Foundation with funding from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm.
The Philippines is Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing internet economy, driven by its robust domestic consumption and expanding e-commerce sector.
The country earned a gross merchandise value of $17 billion through digital transactions in 2021 and is expected to expand to $40 billion by 2025. The government played a key role in the transformation through initiatives like the E-Government Master Plan and the National Broadband Plan, which aim to enhance digital infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity and promote digital inclusion.
The country’s digital economy was valued at about $35.4 billion, contributing 8.4 percent to the nation’s GDP in 2023.