The Philippines is preparing to unlock significant economic and trade opportunities as it readies to host the ASEAN Summit in 2026, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in an interview.
Formal preparations will begin this December ahead of the country’s year-long hosting schedule from January to November 2026. Roque described the upcoming role as “very exciting times,” emphasizing the strong investor interest expected due to the Philippines’ large domestic market.
“So, we’re very excited for this. A lot of trade can happen. A lot of businessmen will be coming here, and a lot of trade ministers will be coming here,” she said.
Roque noted that the DTI aims to use the summit to reintroduce key agricultural exports and expand the country’s export product lines. Hosting the summit, she added, will also allow the Philippines to highlight its traditional and emerging industries while securing more regional trade partnerships.
Positioning the country as an attractive investment destination, Roque underscored the strength of the Philippine market: “Ang maganda kasi, the market is very big. We have almost 120 million Filipinos, which is very attractive for trade, especially for our Southeast Asian neighbors.”