US-ASEAN Business Council leads record delegation to Manila

The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) successfully held its 2025 Philippines Business Mission, its annual flagship business-to-government engagement program, from Aug. 11 to 14.

With 35 US companies, this was the largest USABC business mission to the Philippines.

The mission was co-led by Ambassador Ted Osius (ret.), USABC senior vice president and regional managing director, and the council’s Philippines Committee co-chairs: Stephen Braim, vice president for government and regulatory affairs, Asia Pacific at IBM, and Paul Favila, managing director and chief executive officer at Citi Philippines.

This year’s business mission builds on a pivotal moment in US-Philippines relations, marked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent visit to the White House.

The USABC held the event back-to-back with an Aerospace, Defense, and Security (ADS) Mission to the Philippines from Aug. 14 to 15 in Metro Manila.

This ADS mission was the council’s largest to date, with 26 US companies participating from the defense and security sectors.

“With close to 60 companies joining these historic back-to-back missions, the US private sector demonstrates its steady, deep, and enduring commitment to the Philippines as a key partner in the region,” said Ambassador Osius.

“The US-Philippines relationship is unique, and our delegation reflects our collective commitment to supporting the Philippines’ long-term economic growth, innovation, and regional competitiveness,” he added.

The delegation began its mission with a meeting at Malacañan Palace with Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick D. Go and Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque.

US executives reaffirmed their commitment to expanding investments and upskilling efforts in the Philippines.

Secretary Roque was joined by Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo and Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Tereso Panga.

“We are pleased to welcome the record turnout of the US-ASEAN Business Council mission to the Philippines, which affirms the strength of our economic partnership and the confidence of US businesses in the country’s investment climate,” said Secretary Go.

“This engagement opens new avenues for strategic public-private partnerships that leverage our countries’ complementary strengths in key industries such as electronics and semiconductors, food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and digitalization,” he said.

“We stand ready to assist US companies in expanding their presence in the Philippines and participating in the country’s growth story,” he added.

The group also held high-level engagements with senior officials across key government agencies.

Among the participants were US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Zeno Ronald Abenoja, Budget and Management Undersecretary Margaux Salcedo, Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Jonas Leones, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Francis Lim, and Insurance Commission Chairman Reynaldo Regalado.

The delegation also met with congressional leaders, including Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Constitutional Amendments, and Rep. Miro Quimbo, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

The US Ambassador’s residence hosted a reception for the delegation, attended by more than 155 leaders from government, business, and the diplomatic community.

Guided by the theme “Advancing Inclusive Growth Through Strategic and Resilient Partnerships,” the delegation emphasized public-private collaboration in regulatory reform, workforce development, global trade, and preparations for the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.

“Digital transformation is essential to unlocking the next phase of economic growth in the Philippines,” said Braim.

“IBM is proud to work alongside the council and the Philippine government to advance initiatives that modernize public services and strengthen the country’s position in an increasingly competitive global economy,” he added.

“As global connectivity accelerates, Citi is happy to support our colleagues in the council in facilitating investments in the Philippines,” said Favila.

“This is consistent with our mandate of enabling economic progress, which we have executed for more than a century of doing business and serving clients in the country,” he added.

USABC’s Philippines Committee co-chairs IBM and Citi, its vice-chairs Coca-Cola, Cargill, and Zuellig Pharma, along with 3M, Abbott, Amazon, American Express, Anglicotech Philippines Inc., Astrophysics, Bayer, Bell Textron, Boeing, Chevron, Cisco, Corteva, Equinix, Ford, Jhpiego, Jollibee Group, JP Morgan, Lockheed Martin, Manulife, Mastercard, MSD Animal Health, Netflix, Philip Morris International, Salesforce, TE Connectivity, Texas Instruments, The Asia Group, UltraPass, Visa, and Vriens & Partners participated in the 2025 Philippines Business Mission.