Hosted by Mastercard in partnership with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), the one-day summit coincides with the 47th ASEAN Summit and marks the first ASEAN edition of the global Inclusive Growth Summit series. Held at the Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur, the event brings together regional policymakers, business leaders, and development partners to explore strategies for equitable and sustainable growth across Southeast Asia.
Magno joins Budget Secretary Amenah โMinaโ Pangandaman and SM Investments Corporation President and CEO Frederic DyBuncio in the summitโs closing panel, โA Moment to Lead: ASEAN 2026 and the Philippines,โ moderated by Rico Hizon of ANCโs Beyond the Exchange. The session will highlight the Philippinesโ priorities as incoming ASEAN Chair in 2026, with Magno expected to emphasize inclusive growth, digital innovation, and regional cooperation.
Pangandaman also appears earlier in the eventโs speaker lineup, underscoring the Philippine governmentโs focus on aligning budget and development policy with ASEANโs inclusive-growth agenda.
Magno will likewise share insights on Mindanaoโs Orange Economyโan initiative harnessing creativity and culture as drivers of developmentโand highlight the regionโs transformation into a model for peace-building and economic inclusion.
โThe Philippinesโ upcoming ASEAN chairmanship presents a unique opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships and ensure that growth is truly inclusive,โ Magno said. โMindanao stands ready to play its part by opening doors to collaboration and investment.โ
Ahead of the summit, Magno led a MinDA business mission that drew strong interest from Malaysian investors. The delegation showcased Mindanaoโs strategic growth sectors and reaffirmed the regionโs openness to foreign capital under the Brunei DarussalamโIndonesiaโMalaysiaโPhilippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) framework.
The summit also features prominent global figures, including human-rights lawyer Amal Clooney, Temasek CEO Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, and Mastercard Vice Chairman Jon Huntsman Jr. Their participation underscores a shared commitment to embedding inclusive growth principles in cross-sector collaboration and governance frameworks across ASEAN.
This yearโs summit focuses on empowering MSMEs, advancing digital inclusion, and promoting sustainable innovation. Key initiatives include Mastercardโs Strive programs, which support 400,000 small enterprises in Malaysia and Indonesia, and a US$1 billion MSME financing partnership with the Asian Development Bankโhalf of which targets women-led and climate-focused businesses.
In line with the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.โs administrationโs priorities, the Philippines is championing an ASEAN agenda that strengthens digital connectivity, supply chain integration, and sustainable manufacturing. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has called for ASEAN to deepen its digital economy infrastructure, enhance regional trade resilience, and position the bloc as a competitive hub for green industries and smart manufacturing.
The administration also places strong emphasis on inclusive and sustainable growth, reaffirming support for the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. President Marcos has underscored that inclusivity must be a โfundamental pillarโ of developmentโensuring that all sectors, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), benefit from regional prosperity and innovation.
Food security and climate resilience remain central to the Philippinesโ leadership priorities for its 2026 ASEAN chairmanship. The government is advancing a people-centered approach to sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and water resource managementโareas where Mindanaoโs development models, such as the water-energy-food nexus and rural enterprise programs, are seen as key examples of scalable success.
Magnoโs participation underscores Mindanaoโs growing role in ASEANโs economic integration and reflects the Philippinesโ commitment to building a more connected, inclusive, and resilient region. (MinDA)ย