ASEAN Economic Leaders Convene in Iloilo, Boosting Regional Trade and Investment
High-ranking economic officials from ASEAN Member States attended the 49th High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration in Iloilo City on February 25, 2026, underscoring the city's expanding significance in regional trade and investment. The event, hosted by the Philippines as ASEAN chair, brought together key stakeholders to advance economic cooperation and policy alignment across Southeast Asia.
Iloilo's Strategic Role in Regional Integration
Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Allan Gepty emphasized Iloilo's capacity as a host city, stating that it provides an excellent platform to accommodate ASEAN partners and external allies. He highlighted the dual opportunity to promote both tourism and trade, noting that showcasing Iloilo as a tourism destination can simultaneously foster trade relationships, and vice versa.
Gepty explained that the gathering serves to introduce ASEAN to Iloilo and the city to the regional bloc, leveraging the Philippines' trade agreements negotiated through ASEAN with countries such as China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. He added that beyond hosting international meetings, this event allows Iloilo Province to demonstrate its potential as a prime investment hub for strategic sectors within the country.
Infrastructure and Economic Development
Infrastructure upgrades are supporting Iloilo's growing role in regional commerce. In 2025, the Board of Investments approved a P2.35-billion project to modernize the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex, which is operated by International Container Terminal Services Inc. This development was highlighted by the Visayas Container Terminal handling its first export shipment in April 2025, consisting of 15 forty-foot containers of agricultural products destined for Singapore.
Officials noted that hosting ASEAN meetings generates significant economic activity for local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and transport providers. Additionally, these events promote Iloilo as an emerging hub for information technology and business process management, aligning with broader economic diversification efforts.
ASEAN's Economic Priorities and Future Engagements
As ASEAN chair, the Philippines continues to prioritize key areas such as the digital economy, economic security, and expanded trade partnerships to create jobs and strengthen business opportunities. The series of meetings in Iloilo includes the Roundtable on ASEAN Economic Security on February 25, followed by the HLTF-EI meetings from February 26 to 27.
Organizers emphasized that these engagements demonstrate Iloilo's capacity to shape the regional economic agenda, reinforcing its position as a dynamic player in ASEAN's integration efforts. The HLTF-EI serves as a critical policy platform for advancing regional integration in trade, services, and investment, with Iloilo at the forefront of these discussions.
