ILOILO City – This city is positioning itself for a major economic breakthrough as it hosts ministerial-level meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) focused on trade and investment from February 25 to 27, with local officials eyeing expanded export opportunities, stronger foreign linkages, and increased investor confidence as tangible outcomes of the high-level gathering.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said the presence of economic ministers and delegates from ASEAN member-states and dialogue partners presents a rare opportunity not just for diplomatic discussions, but for Iloilo to directly promote its industries to key regional markets.
“We will be having economics ministers here in the city, and aside from their meetings, we will also be highlighting our heritage houses,” Treñas said. “One of the reasons why Iloilo City was chosen is because we are a Creative City of Gastronomy and a recipient of the ASEAN Clean City Award. This is a big honor for our city.”
The meetings, which will primarily tackle economic and trade cooperation among ASEAN nations, are expected to draw representatives from the 10 member-states — Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam — along with dialogue partners China, Japan and South Korea.
Treñas stressed that the economic agenda aligns with Iloilo’s long-term development strategy of strengthening local industries while connecting them to international markets.
“The meetings that we will host will be more on economic and trade. This is a big benefit for our city because we are not only promoting the economic programs of the country, but we can also help improve our economic activity here, especially as we aim to reach international markets,” she said.
“This is a venue for us to showcase and help our local industries, because if we start helping our local industries, there is a direct impact on our communities in terms of more job opportunities and more economic activities for the city,” Treñas added.
According to the mayor, the city government has intensified coordination with national agencies to ensure the safe and smooth staging of the event.
“On Monday, we already called for an inter-agency meeting together with national government agencies to make sure that the ASEAN meetings here in the city will be successful and safe for all our visitors,” she said.
Beyond the February meetings, Iloilo is set to host additional ASEAN-related activities until May, further extending the economic ripple effect on hotels, restaurants, transport services and local enterprises.
“The first confirmed meetings will run until May. It will start next week in February, and we will also have meetings in April and May,” Treñas said.
She emphasized that holding the discussions in Iloilo allows the city to spotlight its own economic strengths alongside regional trade talks.
“If it is an ASEAN meeting, the discussions are more on trade among ASEAN countries. But if it is held in Iloilo City, we can focus on promoting our local industries. Instead of just looking outward, we can start by strengthening what we have here,” she said.
The Department of Tourism Region 6 will lead promotional activities for venues, particularly heritage houses that will host official dinners and social events.
“For the dinners after the meetings, we will be highlighting our heritage houses, and that is where we plan to hold some of the official dinners around Iloilo City,” Treñas said.
The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority is among the lead national agencies supporting the event, with the city government handling logistics and coordination.
City officials said hosting the ministerial meetings reinforces Iloilo’s growing reputation as a competitive meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination in Western Visayas — but more importantly, as a city ready to engage directly with global markets./PN
