Manila, Philippines – The Philippines as the Chair of the ASEAN 2026, the Economic Ministers Retreat and Related Meeting commits to continuously maintain cooperation among the countries in Southeast Asia towards a more productive and developed economic environment.
Trade and Industry Director Marie Sherylyn Aquia made these remarks on the official kick off of the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials meeting, held in Taguig City, Wednesday.
The Senior Economic Leaders of the ASEAN is set to present recommendations, and should review issues, towards the economic growth on the remaining two days of regional bloc discussions.
Amid the threat to the economic environment brought by the various conflicts not just in the Middle East but in different regions, the ASEAN said that the environment remains unsettled in the Southeast Asian countries.
But due to cooperations, discussions and dialogues, the regional bloc worked together to mitigate the impact of the differences emerging across the globe.
The ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting will prioritize the finalization of the Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs), digital initiatives, regional stability, among others.
Under the PEDs is the trade and investment cooperations, digital transformation, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), creative industry and innovation, including sustainability and economic resilience.
The regional bloc senior economic officials will also convene a special dialogue to mitigate the possible effect of the oil crisis amid conflict in the Middle East, economic environment threat, including investments,and businesses across the countries in the region.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News