MAKATI CITY — The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is gearing up for the conduct of the highly anticipated ASEAN Online Sale Day (AOSD) 2023. 

From 08 to 22 August 2023, this regional e-commerce initiative will bring together businesses, marketplaces, and platforms selling goods and services online from across Southeast Asia to promote cross-border trade and economic collaboration. This event presents a unique opportunity for Filipino businesses, including MSMEs, to tap into the vast ASEAN market and for consumers to access exciting deals from across the region.

The AOSD is an annual ASEAN-wide event that started in 2020, participated by all the ASEAN Member States, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines that aims to strengthen economic ties among ASEAN countries, boost consumer trust in e-commerce, and provide valuable sales opportunities for micro, small, and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs). In its fourth year, AOSD aims to connect the ASEAN community and overcome barriers in implementing cross-border e-commerce by providing consumers a safe space to shop online and provide opportunities for ASEAN businesses to expand their markets through cross-border e-commerce.

Participating businesses, marketplaces, and platforms will offer exciting online discounts and promotions, allowing Filipino consumers to access incredible deals from all participating e-commerce enabled businesses within the ASEAN region. A consumer complaint mechanism will also be available to mediate any possible complaints arising from the AOSD. Since AOSD started, the Philippines did not receive any complaints and will continue to provide the best service across the region.

As of 27 July 2023, a total of 54 Filipino businesses will be joining the AOSD and will receive extensive promotional support from regional marketing campaigns, reaching over 600 million ASEAN consumers. DTI’s official publicity channels will further enhance the visibility of participating businesses in the Philippine market. All authorized participants can proudly display the official AOSD logo in their marketing materials, signaling their commitment to regional cooperation and offering trustworthy deals to consumers. Filipino businesses taking part in the AOSD are also relieved from the requirement of securing a sales promo permit from DTI, streamlining their participation process.

Since 2020, the Philippines has fielded the most number of participating businesses in the AOSD. In 2022 alone, there were 120 e-commerce businesses that participated from the Philippines. The participating companies represent a wide range of sectors, including food and beverage, travel and tourism, fashion, e-marketplaces, consumer goods, handicrafts, and home and living. MSMEs also joined with their products ranging from snacks, fresh produce, chocolates, coffee, condiments, cosmetics, woven items, and home décor.

To maximize opportunities from AOSD activities, Filipino businesses are also invited to join the physical AOSD event in Semarang, Indonesia, from 19 to 22 August 2023. At this in-person event, Filipino businesses can showcase their products, collaborate with other businesses, and engage with potential customers directly at the assigned country booths. Participating businesses in the physical AOSD may also participate in other components of the onsite activities, including an exclusive workshop on cross-border e-commerce and coaching sessions to help them access cross-border markets. 

Visit the AOSD web page at http://onlineasean.com/ for more information and for the full list of participating businesses, marketplaces, and platforms. 

Deadline of application for Philippine-based business, MSMEs, or marketplaces selling goods or services online is until 4 August 2023. For more information about joining this year’s AOSD, you may visit: www.dti.gov.ph/aseansale. ♦

Date of release: 28 July 2023