Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum

Fairmont Hotel, Makati City February 24, 2026 President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined senior policymakers, business leaders and media partners at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum (AEEOLF) at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City, marking the first major high-level event of the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship. The Forum seeks to shape a compelling and unified regional narrative, spotlighting Philippine industries and products while underscoring ASEAN’s leadership in advancing inclusive growth and deeper regional integration. During the fireside chat titled ’Tapping the Philippines’ Dynamic Growth Story,' the President outlined the Administration’s commitment to boost the country’s economic competitiveness through structural reforms, digitalizing government services, improving ease of doing business, expanding global partnerships, and strengthening public-private collaboration. He emphasized that sustainable economic growth depends on stability, a clear national vision, and leadership dedicated to long-term nation-building. Likewise, the Chief Executive underscored the importance of ASEAN centrality in promoting regional economic resurgence, in line with the Philippines’ Chairship theme, ’Navigating Our Future, Together.’ “I think we share the aspiration, all Member States share the aspiration that ASEAN should return to its old role of being an economic, a global economic driver. That happened in 2019, that’s where we were and we need to return to that,” he said. He further emphasized that reaching this goal requires different strategies in each country while keeping regional coordination intact. “Even achieving that will be done in many different ways depending on which country you are talking about. But we have to do it in consonance with one another so that we achieve our own national goals and at the same time achieve the goals that we have for ASEAN,” President Marcos Jr. remarked. Connect with RTVM Website: http://rtvm.gov.ph Facebook: www.facebook.com/presidentialcom and www.facebook.com/rtvmalacanang YouTube: @RTVMalacanang Tiktok: @RTVMalacanang