The ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) convened its 44th Chairs’ Meeting, hosted by the Securities and Exchange Commission Philippines, and approved its 2026 workplans, timelines, and budgets, marking the start of initiatives under the ACMF Action Plan 2026–2030. The priorities set out under the plan span investment connectivity, sustainable finance, cross-border supervision and enforcement cooperation, and the use of emerging technologies to strengthen investor protection and cybersecurity. Work on deeper regional integration includes the planned introduction of “ASEAN Diamonds”, studies on facilitating ASEAN cross-listings and Depositary Receipts issuances, and the creation of ASEAN indices, alongside intensified capacity-building across member jurisdictions. On sustainable finance, the ACMF plans to release the next phase of the Mitigation co-benefit and Adaptation for Resilience Guide and the ASEAN Code of Conduct for External Verifiers, while continuing dialogue with the International Sustainability Standards Board on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. The meeting also noted progress on the ASEAN Collective Investment Schemes Framework and the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. Following Chairs’ approval, the ACMF launched the Knowledge Network of Supervision and Enforcement Directors to support information sharing, targeted capacity-building, early warning mechanisms, and risk monitoring, including for digital asset-related activities. The Chairs also welcomed three new working groups (Enforcement and Supervision, Islamic Finance, and Market Promotions) and endorsed operationalizing an ACMF Office, with the Asian Development Bank indicating readiness to engage on potential hosting and support arrangements subject to further agreement and applicable approvals.

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