The first regional discussion on the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network—or AMEN, for short—program was held last May 3, 2019 in Manila. The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) organized the activity, with representatives of both the public and private sectors of all the ASEAN member states in attendance.

The ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

Last May 3, 2019 in Manila, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) held the first regional discussion on the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network—or AMEN, for short—program with representatives of both the public and private sectors of all the ASEAN member states in attendance.

With the support of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME), which represents the government of the ASEAN member states, the AMEN Program is designed to supplement the ongoing MSME capacity building programs of the individual states and to organize a systematic exchange of mentors across the entire region who will empower ASEAN’s MSMEs as a significant contributor to the one goal shared by all-prosperity.

The ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

ASEAN representatives discussed how to promote cooperation among Member States as well as regional and international organisations in order to effectively address and eliminate mine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in the region at a seminar in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 22-23 April 2019.

The Regional Seminar on Full and Effective Operationalization of ARMAC: Enhancing Regional Efforts in Addressing ERW through Integrated Approach was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, with support from the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

The Consumer Affairs Agency supported the implementation of the program Capacity Building Workshop and Observational Site Visit for the project “Promotion of Sustainable Consumption in ASEAN” for consumer protection officials of ASEAN Member States from 6 to 9 March 2019. The Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines serves as the project proponent. The project is based on the growing momentum for sustainable consumption among ASEAN countries aiming for further economic development under the “ASEAN Community Vision 2025.” The project is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), with the cooperation of the Japan Productivity Center (JPC) as an implementing agency.

In order to observe trends on “Ethical Consumption” in Japan, discussions with experts and observational site visits were held with companies in Tokyo and Kyoto working on sustainable business.

In this project, the Consumer Affairs Agency will continue to provide support in order to contribute to the dissemination of “Ethical Consumption” and plan to hold ASEAN-led regional forums and develop sustainable consumption toolkits for the purpose of awareness raising of the stakeholders.

The personnel of the International Programs Unit of the National Youth Commission (NYC) visited the Central Luzon State University in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija recently to take part in the projects initiated by the beneficiaries of the Japan East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth (JENESYS 2.0 Social Community Course) and JENESYS2018 Japan ASEAN Students' Conference.

With the activities initiated by the youth beneficiaries of the international exchange programs facilitated by the NYC, the Commission hopes that the other beneficiaries will be able to replicate similar community or school based activities as a manifestation of sharing with fellow Filipinos what they have learned from their visits to foreign countries like Japan.

The JENESYS2018 is an exchange programme for the youths of Japan and ASEAN.