Iloilo hosts ASEAN economic meet, boosts regional trade role

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Iloilo further reinforced its growing stature as a key economic hub in Western Visayas as it hosted the 49th High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) from Feb. 25 to 27, bringing together high-ranking economic officials from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

During a media briefing on the opening day, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty thanked Iloilo for its hospitality and described the gathering as a timely opportunity to strengthen engagement between the region and the 10-member bloc.

“It is really an opportune time for us also to present ASEAN to Iloilo province, Ilonggos, and the whole region, and also to bring Iloilo to ASEAN,” Gepty said.

Through ASEAN, the Philippines has concluded trade agreements not only within the bloc but also with external partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong.

These agreements grant exporters preferential or duty-free access to markets while opening cross-border opportunities for professionals and service providers under services commitments.

The HLTF-EI serves as one of ASEAN’s primary economic policy platforms, providing guidance on advancing regional integration in trade, services and investment.

Gepty said hosting the meetings demonstrates Iloilo’s readiness to position itself as a strategic investment destination.

“Hosting ASEAN is an excellent opportunity not only to showcase that Iloilo is more than capable of hosting international events, meetings, and exhibitions, but also to show that it can be an investment hub for strategic sectors such as IT-BPM,” he said.

He added that the event also provides an avenue to highlight Iloilo and Western Visayas’ capacity to integrate into global value chains by exporting products not only within Southeast Asia but also to other international markets, while promoting the region’s tourism destinations.

The city’s growing importance in regional economic activity is reinforced by ongoing infrastructure developments.

In 2025, the Board of Investments approved a PHP 2.35 billion project to modernize and upgrade the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex, now operated by International Container Terminal Services Inc.

The upgraded facility is expected to enhance Region VI’s capacity for sustainable manufacturing and services, strengthening Iloilo’s standing as a key trading center in Western Visayas.

The Visayas Container Terminal also recorded its first export shipment in April 2025, handling 15 forty-foot containers of agricultural products transshipped to Singapore — a move seen as a step toward deeper integration into ASEAN supply chains.

As ASEAN chair, the Philippines continues to advance economic priorities such as digital economy cooperation, economic security and expanded trade partnerships aimed at strengthening regional resilience and creating broader business opportunities.