Philippines Department of Finance co-chairs ASEAN finance and central bank meeting with business councils to advance PPP financing and regional payment connectivity

The Philippines’ Department of Finance reported that Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. co-chaired the ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting with ASEAN Business Councils, aiming to mobilise long-term capital and expand access to financial services through stronger public-private collaboration as part of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship. Sessions with the United States-ASEAN Business Council, the European Union-ASEAN Business Council, and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council on April 9, 2026 focused on leveraging public-private partnerships, blended finance, and risk-sharing mechanisms to fund critical infrastructure, strengthen regional connectivity, and support high-impact sectors. Discussions also covered the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence in improving efficiency and financial services, while Go called for deeper EU-ASEAN cooperation on digital and sustainable finance to widen financial access for small businesses and accelerate climate action, and urged scaling up inclusive financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises and agri-food value chains alongside stronger regional payment connectivity. The Philippine co-chairs and ASEAN finance ministers and central bank governors indicated that the commitments and insights from these engagements are expected to be developed into concrete actions, stronger investments, and longer-term partnerships.