ASEAN meet zeroes in on digital economy, economic security

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Advancing the digital economy and strengthening regional economic security are among the key priorities in the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Iloilo.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty said the ASEAN engagement goes beyond traditional trade discussions and covers broader economic rules and integration policies.

“We talk about a lot of rules, regulations, and economic policies that touch on trade, services, and investments,” Gepty said during a media briefing on Feb. 25, the opening day of the three-day event.

He highlighted the push for a stronger digital economy framework as one of the Philippines’ priorities under its current ASEAN chairship.

“The value of having a digital economy framework agreement for the Philippines and ASEAN is that it will make our region, or particularly the Philippines, a hub for IT-related services, such as call centers and data centers; they will be attracted to locate here, which in the process gives opportunities,” he explained.

He also said ASEAN is looking to strengthen economic ties with Canada, with hopes of concluding the proposed ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement within the year.

The agreement is expected to open another market for Filipino exporters, including products from Western Visayas.

The High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI), he added, is tasked with providing guidance on how to move forward with ASEAN’s economic integration agenda, enhance existing arrangements and address emerging challenges.

Part of the discussions is a Roundtable on ASEAN Economic Security, which seeks to address global trade disruptions, evolving economic policies imposed by other countries and the need for a common regional understanding of economic security.

Gepty said the meeting will also review ASEAN’s engagements with external partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, as the bloc works to further enhance its economic relations beyond its member states.

“Our goal is reflected in our theme, ‘Navigating our future together,’ which recognizes that as we advance our economic relations, we face many challenges. We want to ensure that our future is inclusive and that it brings shared prosperity to our people, particularly in the province of Iloilo and other regions,” he said.

The three-day event kicked off with the Roundtable on ASEAN Economic Security: Context, Considerations, and Challenges, followed by the 49th HLTF-EI meetings from Feb. 26 to 27.

The Philippines assumed the ASEAN chairship in 2026 under the theme “Navigating Our Future Together,” marking the country’s fifth time to lead the 10-member regional bloc. ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.