ASEAN chairship takes center stage at BusinessWorld Economic Forum

Zafer Mustafaoglu and Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has had an eventful 2026 so far, with fuel price hikes, geopolitical tensions and internal political instability dominating the headlines of the year’s first quarter.

Yet, the country’s chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is poised to become the defining highlight of the year, impacting the country’s economy and diplomatic standing, as well as its ability to influence regional priorities.

This renewed prominence will be placed in the limelight during the country’s premier business gathering, BusinessWorld Economic Forum 2026, scheduled for May 18 at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

With the theme “Advancing the ASEAN Agenda: Turning Regional Vision to Corporate Action,” the forum is expected to bring together policymakers, economists, top executives and business leaders from various industries over dialogues on how government policy and private sector initiatives can align with the year’s more important themes, such as ASEAN priorities, trade, digitalization, sustainability and inclusive development.

Participants will engage in a full day of discussions centered on how the Philippines can utilize its ASEAN chairship to boost economic growth and strengthen its role in the region.

The opening keynote, titled “Positioning the Philippines as ASEAN’s Next Economic Engine,” is set to be delivered by Zafer Mustafaoglu, division director for the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, East Asia and Pacific at the World Bank. He is expected to outline ASEAN opportunities for the country to capitalize on, including regional demand, demographic advantages and ongoing structural reforms.

Panel discussions and fireside chats will delve into key themes shaping the country’s economic trajectory within ASEAN.

The first panel, focusing on “Benchmarking the Philippines’ Competitiveness: Lessons From The Region’s Best,” will feature Jestoni Olivo, a senior economist at the Philippine Competition Commission; Anthony Oundjian, managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group’s Manila; Ronald Roda, managing director of Grab Philippines, and Dr. Jamil Paolo Francisco, executive director of the Asian Institute of Management-Rizalino Navarro Center for Competitiveness.

The forum will conclude with a closing keynote from Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III, chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and founder of GoNegosyo, who will provide a “CEO Perspective on ASEAN 2026: Business Leadership in a More Integrated Region.”

Reserve your seats now at https://businessworldecoforum.helixpay.ph/.