IBC Holds Introductory Meeting with Philippine Trade & Industry Secretary, ABAC Chair

On the sidelines of the ASEAN Conference 2026, IBC Chair of the Board of Trustees, Arsjad Rasjid, and senior leadership, including Chief Executive Officer Sofyan Djalil and Chief Executive Officer William Sabandar, held an introductory meeting with Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and Jose Ma. "Joey" A. Concepcion III, Chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) 2026.

During the meeting, the IBC Chairman introduced IBC as a business-led policy think tank whose membership has a significant presence in the Philippines.

Secretary Roque shared the Philippines' key economic priorities and deliverables under its 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship, with a focus on advancing digital trade through the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), MSME development, and regional energy security.

The IBC Chairman also reaffirmed IBC's support and commitment to the Philippines' ASEAN Chairmanship, and updated Secretary Roque on the outcomes of IBC's recent high-level roundtable on regional oil stockpiling, held in partnership with the Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). The roundtable was grounded in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s call and the endorsement of ASEAN leaders at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu to explore the feasibility of a regional oil stockpiling mechanism.

IBC further shared its upcoming plans to bring a business delegation and host an ASEAN Incorporated Luncheon on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Manila this November, extending an invitation to Secretary Roque and opening the door to future collaboration with key Philippine and ASEAN stakeholders on shared priorities of job growth and national competitiveness.