The strategic potential of Mindanao to become a central hub for digital transformation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was the focal point of a major regional conference held in Davao City.
BIMP-EAGA Conference Drives Regional Agenda
On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Bimp-Eaga Investment Conference (Bimp Icon) convened at the Dusit Hotel Davao, gathering a significant assembly of leaders, industry experts, and policymakers from across the ASEAN region. The conference served as a critical platform to discuss the role of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) in enhancing cross-border trade, attracting foreign investments, and fostering innovation as core pathways toward sustainable development and deeper regional integration.
In his opening address, Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno, the chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Philippine signing minister for BIMP-EAGA, emphasized that the event reflects the administration's strong commitment to leveraging digital transformation, tourism, trade facilitation, and infrastructure development. He identified these sectors as primary engines for building economic resilience and competitiveness.
"These priorities are not only national imperatives but also regional strategies that strengthen Mindanao's role in ASEAN integration," Magno stated, highlighting that this direction is "fully aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive for balanced, regionally inclusive growth."
A Legacy of Resilience and a Digital Future
Secretary Magno further pointed out that as BIMP-Eaga enters a new and transformative phase, its policies and partnerships must adapt to a rapidly changing global economy. This new era demands greater agility, digital readiness, and an unwavering focus on sustainable development practices.
This perspective was reinforced by other ASEAN leaders who recognized BIMP-EAGA's long-standing role in shaping the integration and resilience of Southeast Asia. Kanchana Wanichkom, the Director of the Sectoral Development Directorate of ASEAN, highlighted the bloc's nearly three-decade contribution to regional growth.
"Bimp-Eaga has contributed to ASEAN integration since its establishment in 1994, almost 30 years ago," Wanichkom said. "We have the experience and the energy to move forward. It's a very competitive bloc with strong economic resilience. Bimp-Eaga has been a very important driving force."
Collaborative Spirit for Inclusive Growth
The conference also detailed how BIMP-Eaga is actively positioning itself as a competitive and integrated tourism destination for both ASEAN and global markets. Simultaneously, it is opening wider doors for investments in cross-border trade and the digital economy. These initiatives are designed to boost capital inflow, widen market access, and create sustainable growth pathways across the entire subregion.
The collaborative spirit of the event was underscored by the participation of numerous prominent business leaders and representatives, including:
- Adam Dominic Domingo of Leechiu Property
- Angie Kueh of the Bimp-Eaga Business Council
- Benito C. Bengzon Jr. of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association
- Carolina de Leon of Philexport XII
- Chin Kah Yi of Sabah-Net
- MinDA board member Joji Ilagan Bian
Their collective presence signaled a shared commitment to expanding inclusive growth across the subregion.
The outcomes of BIMP ICON 2025 align closely with President Marcos's agenda of fostering regionally inclusive development and positioning Mindanao as a key driver of national competitiveness. The emphasis on digital transformation, tourism, and trade facilitation directly supports the administration's broader push to modernize the country's infrastructure and expand economic opportunities for all Filipinos.
