President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday departed for Gyeongju, South Korea to attend the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. He pledged to push for greater digital inclusion, regional cooperation, and clean governance as key pillars of the Philippines’ growth strategy.
Speaking before his departure at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Mr. Marcos said his participation in the summit aligns with the country’s long-term vision under “AmBisyon 2040”, focusing on digital transformation, supply chain resilience, and equitable prosperity.
“We must recognize the immense economic gravity of the APEC region,” Mr. Marcos said.
“It accounts for nearly 46 percent of global trade and 61 percent of total global GDP. The growth and stability of this region are directly tied to the opportunities and welfare of all Filipinos,” he added.
The President emphasized that the APEC theme, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow” complements the Philippines’ national development agenda to accelerate physical and digital connectivity and promote inclusive, innovation-driven growth.
President Marcos said his engagement with APEC leaders will focus on four key areas: ensuring equitable access to digital services and financial inclusion in rural areas; improving investment facilitation and infrastructure for seamless trade; boosting supply chain resilience; and advancing digital literacy, especially for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and women.
He also announced plans to deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, where he will highlight the Philippines’ commitment to fostering partnerships and building a robust, technology-driven economy.
“The Philippines is not merely ready. We are a reliable, forward-looking partner in the Asia-Pacific. Invest in the Filipino,” President Marcos said.
The President is also set to meet with Korean business leaders and members of the Filipino community in Busan to strengthen trade ties and people-to-people cooperation.
Coming from the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week, Mr. Marcos said he will continue to push for stronger collaboration with regional partners.
“Real growth and lasting prosperity are achievable when we break down barriers, share knowledge, and collaborate across sectors,” he said.
President Marcos also acknowledged that global trade discussions at APEC are taking place amid the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“The results of those meetings will color and influence everything that we will be doing in APEC,” he said.
“The world is watching because decisions made between the two largest economies will affect every single citizen of the world,” the president added.
The 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting will run from October 31 to November 1.
