The Philippine government has officially assumed the co-chairmanship of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Southeast Asia Regional Programme, alongside Canada. This development underscores the Philippines’ deepening commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-led growth across the Southeast Asian region.
The handover ceremony took place on June 3 during the OECD 2025 Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), held under the theme “Leading the Way Towards Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Prosperity through Rules-Based Trade, Investment, and Innovation.” The MCM was chaired by Costa Rica, with Australia, Canada, and Lithuania serving as vice-chairs.
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan represented the Philippines at the handover ceremony. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the significance of the country’s new leadership role and its partnership with Canada in steering the Programme.
“Through this co-chairship, we welcome the opportunity to exchange experiences with regional partners and collaborate on shared priorities—particularly in areas such as private sector engagement, digital economy advancement, and innovation promotion,” said Secretary Balisacan.
The Philippines and Canada will work closely with OECD member states and Southeast Asian countries to address key global challenges, including the promotion of sustainable infrastructure, responsible business conduct, and inclusive economic development.
Secretary Balisacan expressed gratitude to the OECD and the outgoing co-chairs—Australia and Vietnam—for their leadership and contributions to the Programme. “We are honored to be entrusted with this critical responsibility and look forward to working with our Programme counterparts, whose expertise and dedication to regional cooperation are highly regarded,” he added.
During breakout sessions, Secretary Balisacan also outlined the Philippine government’s strategy to enhance economic resilience in a shifting global trade landscape. Key priorities include strategic trade diversification and upgrading, harnessing digital transformation for inclusive growth, and advancing pragmatic approaches to artificial intelligence governance.
Held from June 3 to 4, the OECD 2025 Ministerial Council Meeting brought together OECD members and partner countries to reaffirm their collective pursuit of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable prosperity. The Philippines’ new leadership role in the Southeast Asia Regional Programme marks a significant milestone in its growing international economic engagement.
