DTI puts Filipino creatives on ASEAN export stage

TAGUIG CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) opened the inaugural ASEAN Creative Industries Expo by Malikhaing Pinoy, or ASEAN MPEx, at the SMX Convention Center Aura, showcasing the Philippines’ PHP 2.12 trillion creative economy as a driver of regional trade, digital growth, and cultural exchange.

Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque said the DTI, under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is committed to providing artists and creators with platforms to help transform local talent into globally competitive enterprises.

Creative economy reaches PHP 2.12 trillion

Roque said the Philippine creative economy reached PHP 2.12 trillion in 2025, accounting for 7.6% of the country’s gross domestic product.

The figure represented 6.9% growth from PHP 1.98 trillion in 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, which considers its 2025 creative economy estimates preliminary.

Creative goods exports amounted to PHP 320 billion, while creative services exports reached PHP 427 billion.

Digital interactive goods and services, including game development and animation, accounted for nearly a fifth of total creative output and are projected to reach USD 2.6 billion by 2027.

DEFA targets wider regional digital market

Roque said the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, or DEFA, is expected to improve market access for creative businesses by streamlining cross-border payments, data flows, and intellectual property protection among ASEAN member states.

ASEAN concluded negotiations on DEFA in May, with the agreement scheduled for signing in November during the 49th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

“At the heart of any great nation lies its culture and heritage, and under the Malikhaing Pinoy initiative, our creative industries generate a cultural ‘currency’ that draws the world to our shores.

“As we lead ASEAN in 2026, we are turning local creative talent into a regional export powerhouse.

“And with DEFA, we provide a single, streamlined set of rules to access regional markets, secure digital payments, and protect intellectual property—solidifying the Philippines’ position as Asia’s Premier Creative Hub by 2030,” Secretary Roque said.

Roque also highlighted the proposed ASEAN Center of Excellence for Creative Industries, or ACE-CI, a priority economic deliverable under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship.

Envisioned to be hosted in the Philippines, the center would serve as a permanent regional hub for policy research, capacity building, and market development.

The ASEAN Secretariat delivered a message of support reaffirming the creative sector’s role in deepening regional integration and promoting inclusive economic growth across Southeast Asia.

Expo showcases nine creative domains

Organized by the DTI through the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council Secretariat, ASEAN MPEx brought together all nine creative domains: audiovisual media, creative services, cultural sites, digital interactive media, design, performing arts, publishing and printed media, traditional cultural expressions, and visual arts.

The exhibition featured an ASEAN Malikhaing Pinoy Pavilion displaying digital interactive elements from ASEAN member states.

A Government Services Pavilion offered business and intellectual property support, while a Coconut Industry Pavilion showcased sustainable design applications.

The exhibition also featured a special presentation on the country’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and a Philippine gastronomy showcase mounted in partnership with the Department of Tourism.

ASEAN MPEx 2026 ran through Sept. 19 at the SMX Convention Center Aura, featuring domain exhibits, live cultural performances, “Malikhaing Pinoy Talks” with policymakers, and pitching sessions connecting creators with global investors.

The Malikhaing Pinoy Program remains the DTI’s flagship initiative for developing the creative sector and supporting the government’s goal of positioning the Philippines as Asia’s “Premier Creative Hub” by 2030.