At the recent Ikhlas Capital Annual Conference, Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) President and Chief Executive Officer Cosette V. Canilao highlighted the urgent need for robust public-private collaboration, digital transformation, and sustainable financing to power the next wave of ASEAN infrastructure.
Participating as a key panelist in the dedicated ASEAN Infrastructure session, Canilao shared strategic insights alongside prominent regional leaders, including Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Wick Veloso and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Chairman Tan Sri Dr. Azmil Khalid. The high-level discussion was moderated by former Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima.
During the panel, Canilao emphasized that closing the region’s infrastructure gap requires moving beyond traditional framework models toward building well-structured, bankable projects capable of attracting private capital. She underscored four critical pillars for regional momentum:
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Stronger Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Alignment between government vision and private sector execution to de-risk major capital investments.
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Enhanced Regional Connectivity: Streamlining trade, logistics, and physical networks across Southeast Asian economies to boost collective competitiveness.
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Digitalization & Smart Infrastructure: Leveraging technology to modernize traditional assets, optimize operations, and improve lifecycle management.
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Responsible AI Integration: Deploying artificial intelligence thoughtfully to enhance predictive maintenance, resource allocation, and safety standards while upholding data ethics and sustainability goals.
“Unlocking Southeast Asia’s full economic potential demands a unified approach to infrastructure,” Canilao stated. “By creating bankable pipelines, fostering cross-border alliances, and responsibly integrating transformative technologies like AI, ASEAN can build resilient, future-ready networks that directly benefit local communities.”
As the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, Aboitiz InfraCapital continues to drive sustainable economic growth through its diversified portfolio of industrial estates, water utilities, digital infrastructure, and regional airports. Canilao’s participation at the conference re-affirms AIC’s commitment to steering regional development and creating lasting value across the ASEAN landscape.
