Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said ASEAN economic ministers are strengthening regional coordination efforts to help keep Southeast Asia stable and economically open amid growing global uncertainties.
Speaking during the opening of the 27th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council Meeting in Cebu City on Thursday, Roque said member-states continue to closely monitor developments related to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and its impact on the regional economy.
She noted that ASEAN had earlier convened a Special AEC Council Meeting through a virtual platform to discuss the rapidly evolving situation and its possible effects on trade, energy, and regional supply chains.
According to Roque, ASEAN’s decision-making process depends on close coordination and continuous dialogue among member-states to move the region toward concrete actions and shared solutions.
“What we do here matters. This meeting is not just about exchanging views, but about aligning priorities and preparing clear directions for collective decisions,” she said.
Roque also pointed to mounting economic pressures caused by global developments, including rising fuel prices and supply chain disruptions that continue to affect businesses and consumers across the region.
“We are here not only to respond to these pressures, but to ensure that our region remains open, stable, and moving forward,” she added.
ASEAN leaders are expected to issue a joint statement outlining the bloc’s collective response to the Middle East crisis. Proposed measures include strengthening energy security, maintaining market stability, improving financial resilience, and safeguarding macroeconomic stability across the region.
The bloc is also expected to discuss strategies aimed at protecting food security, securing agricultural supply chains, and improving humanitarian response mechanisms amid ongoing global tensions.
Beyond immediate concerns, Roque said ASEAN remains focused on advancing long-term regional priorities, including the proposed ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), one of the Philippines’ key Priority Economic Deliverables under its ASEAN chairmanship.
She added that ASEAN has also started laying the groundwork for translating the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 into concrete regional programs and initiatives.
“These efforts are all interconnected and aimed at ensuring ASEAN remains resilient, competitive, and relevant in an increasingly changing global environment,” Roque said.