MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced on Tuesday a series of key economic meetings that the Philippines will host this week as part of its chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.
The meetings will run until Friday and will help prepare for the 32nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting. Among the scheduled gatherings are the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) Negotiating Committee Meeting, the DEFA Legal Experts Meeting, the Preparatory Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting (Prep-SEOM), and the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat.
Under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” representatives from the 11 ASEAN Member States will convene to address global economic challenges and strengthen regional cooperation.
Marie Sherylyn Aquia, Director of the DTI Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR), said the global economy currently faces uncertainties, including developments such as the escalation of conflict in the Middle East that have created volatility in global energy markets and supply routes.
“In times like these, ASEAN’s strength lies in working together, to keep markets open, strengthen our trade partnerships, diversify economic links, and reinforce the resilience of our regional supply chains. At the same time, ASEAN must continue to seize new opportunities for growth,” Marie Sherylyn said.
ASEAN is also advancing initiatives to support long-term growth, particularly through the digital economy.
Southeast Asia’s digital economy is projected to reach US$2 trillion by 2030, creating new opportunities for businesses and communities in the region, Marie Sherylyn said.
“Ensuring that our region can fully harness this opportunity, and that our people are not left behind in the digital era, is therefore a shared priority for ASEAN. This is where the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, or DEFA, becomes particularly important,” Marie Sherylyn said.
The DEFA is envisioned as the most comprehensive regional agreement on the digital economy and e-commerce in ASEAN, aimed at creating an open, secure, interoperable, competitive, and inclusive digital environment.
Marie Sherylyn said while discussions on the agreement remain confidential, the DEFA seeks to strengthen trust in the digital environment through consumer protection, data security, cybersecurity, and safeguards against online scams, while supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises with improved digital payments and electronic documentation.
Alongside the DEFA negotiations, ASEAN is also convening the Legal Experts Meeting for the DEFA, where experts will undertake the legal scrubbing of the agreement.
“They will review the agreed provisions to ensure clarity, consistency, and readiness of the text before it is signed in November at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit,” Marie Sherylyn said.
Following the DEFA discussions, ASEAN Senior Economic Officials will convene the Prep-SEOM to finalize agenda items ahead of the Ministers’ Retreat.
“The purpose is to align views among Member States, clarify issues where possible, and identify areas where consensus can be reached. This allows Ministers to focus on strategic priorities and provide direction on issues requiring higher-level guidance,” Marie Sherylyn said.
The ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat is an annual forum where Ministers discuss the region’s economic direction in an informal setting, allowing for more open, candid, and strategic discussions on ASEAN’s economic priorities and cooperation.
