AXA’s top global executives reaffirmed the Philippines as a strategic market for growth and a hub for innovation, citing its young, dynamic population, increasing demand for financial solutions and a growing economy expanding at about five percent per year.
AXA Group chief executive Thomas Buberl and AXA International Markets chief executive Hassan El-Shabrawishi highlighted the country’s potential during a recent visit, emphasizing its importance to AXA’s global strategy. They noted that the country’s expanding, consumption-driven middle class fuels demand for both protection and financial services.
The executives reinforced AXA’s strong partnership with Metrobank, a joint venture that has anchored the insurer’s presence in the Philippines for over 25 years. The partnership has pioneered bancassurance, expanded digital channels for policy access, and integrated financial education into the market.
AXA’s mission, they said, is to provide inclusive, future-ready protection solutions tailored to Filipino households, businesses and communities. By combining global expertise with local presence, AXA aims to address the country’s unique risks—from vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters to providing safety nets for evolving health and financial challenges.
“Insurance today must go beyond protection after the fact. Our goal is to help communities anticipate risks, prepare for them, and recover more quickly,” said Buberl.
“The Philippines plays an important role in this vision. If risk preparedness and recovery can be strengthened here, it can serve as a model for other high-risk regions across the globe,” he said.
El-Shabrawishi cited the Philippines as a vital testbed for inclusive protection initiatives, particularly for underserved groups like micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), informal workers and vulnerable households.
“Through AXA EssentiALL, our global inclusive insurance program, we are creating affordable, practical solutions that support financial resilience for millions of families,” he said.
AXA illustrates this commitment by prioritizing financial literacy, enabling digital access and conducting resilience-building initiatives to make protection a standard part of Filipinos’ everyday lives.
The executives’ visit underscores AXA’s strategic direction of positioning insurance as an essential societal infrastructure, driven by deepening partnerships and a prevention-first mindset.
