Article by:
Joann Villanueva
MANILA – The 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs to prioritize resilience as its core strategy to navigate a volatile global landscape, Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said.
In her speech on the opening of the 32nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Retreat in a hotel in Taguig City Friday, Roque said “every AEM Retreat develops its own character”, with some “marked by milestones” and others “by difficult but necessary truths.”
“This year, we must embrace both,” she said, citing the ongoing developments in the Middle East “reminds us of our interconnectedness.”
“Geopolitical tensions are no longer distant headlines. They are immediate economic shocks. They manifest in volatile energy markets, disrupted shipping lanes, and shifting investor confidence. For ASEAN, resilience is no longer an aspiration. It is our primary shield,” she said.
Roque said that although the regional bloc continues to push for an open market, “the current landscape demands that the openness be backed by coordination and foresight.”
“This is why the transition of (the) ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force into the ASEAN Geoeconomic Group is so critical. Alongside the High-Level Task Force on Economic Integration, this body will ensure that we are not just reacting to global shifts, we are navigating them together,” she said.
ASEAN is the fifth largest economy in the world, with a population of around 680 million, and with a combined annual output of around USD3.95 trillion in 2024.
With the regional bloc seen to rise to become the fourth largest in the world in the near future, member-countries have been ensuring that all capacities remain strong.
During the AEM Retreat, Roque said representatives from the Philippines “will present our Priority Economic Deliverables for our 2026 ASEAN Chairship.”
The initiatives, she said, “are designed not only for our Chairship year, but for ASEAN as a whole.”
“Our goal is simple but straightforward: To strengthen regional resilience, support innovation, and deepen economic integration across the region to create opportunities that reach our businesses, our workers, and our communities,” he said.
“Central to this is the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement or the DEFA. This is arguably our most ambitious undertaking. When completed, this will form the region's most comprehensive framework for digital trade and digital economy which is actually very important."
Last Wednesday, Marie Sherylyn Aquia, Director of the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR), said part of the DEFA negotiations is ensuring that it is clear of any legal issues.
“They (the experts) will review agreed provisions to ensure clarity, consistency, and readiness of the text before it is signed in November at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit,” she said. (PNA)
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