The Philippines enters ABAC III with a new member as Asia-Pacific businesses push for faster investment, stronger trade, and AI readiness
BANGKOK, Thailand, 7 July 2026 — The Philippines joined business leaders from the 21 APEC economies today as the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) opened its Third Meeting in Bangkok, with newly appointed ABAC Philippines Member Kevin L. Tan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Global Group, making his first official participation in the Council.
The four-day meeting comes at a critical moment for the Asia-Pacific economy as businesses confront slowing global growth, trade tensions, fragile supply chains, and the accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence.
Hosted by ABAC Thailand under the 2026 theme “Openness. Connectivity. Synergy.”, the meeting will develop the business recommendations for presentation to APEC Economic Leaders during their annual dialogue in China this November.
Thailand Prime Minister H.E. Anutin Charnvirakul, who delivered the keynote address at the opening session, challenged governments to focus less on creating new incentives and more on removing barriers that prevent businesses from investing and creating jobs.
“Governments are often very good at announcing policies. Businesses are much better at telling us what actually works,” the Prime Minister said, emphasizing that effective economic policy must be grounded in practical business experience. He added that attracting long-term investment depends on creating confidence through “clear rules, fair competition, and easier market access.”
He highlighted the Thailand Fast Pass initiative, which seeks to reduce bureaucracy, improve coordination among government agencies, and provide faster, more predictable pathways for quality investments.
The Prime Minister likewise underscored the importance of keeping markets open and strengthening regional supply chains through trust, transparent regulations, and deeper economic cooperation rather than fragmentation.
His message closely aligns with ABAC’s call for bold and coordinated regional action amid growing economic uncertainty.
Kevin L. Tan is attending his first ABAC meeting following his appointment as an ABAC Philippines Member. Tan is President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Global Group, one of the Philippines’ largest diversified conglomerates with businesses spanning real estate, tourism, hospitality, food and beverage, and infrastructure. He joins ABAC Philippines Chair Sabin M. Aboitiz and ABAC Philippines Member Joanne de Asis in representing the Philippine private sector in the Council. The Philippine delegation is also joined by Alternate Members Ambassador Francis Chua and Guillermo M. Luz.
The ABAC III meetings mark a critical stage in the Council’s annual work program, where business leaders build consensus on proposals ahead of the annual dialogue with APEC Economic Leaders in November. Against a backdrop of trade uncertainty, fragile supply chains, and rapid technological change, deliberations this week are focused on keeping markets open, strengthening regional economic integration, accelerating digital transformation and AI adoption, supporting MSMEs, and advancing a more sustainable and resilient regional economy.
Reinforcing the urgency of these discussions, Dr. Yunyong Thaicharoen, Chief Economist and Sustainability Officer of Siam Commercial Bank, warned that while investment continues to flow into AI, digital infrastructure, and green industries, the region must also address workforce readiness, energy security, and supply chain resilience to remain competitive.
These priorities aligns closely with the Philippines efforts to attract higher-value investments, strengthen its position in regional supply chains, accelerate AI adoption across industries, and equip Filipino workers with the capabilities needed for an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The outcomes of the Bangkok discussions will be carried forward through the remaining ABAC meetings before being presented to APEC Economic Leaders in November.
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APEC Member Economies: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam.
ABAC was created by APEC Leaders in 1995 to be the primary voice of business in APEC. Each economy has three members who are appointed by their respective Leaders. They meet four times a year in preparation for the presentation of their recommendations to the Leaders in a dialogue that is a key event in the annual Leaders Meeting.
Under China’s leadership, ABAC is pursuing a work program under the theme “Openness. Synergy. Connectivity.” to respond to the challenge of maintaining the economic vitality of the Asia-Pacific Region and ensure it benefits all.
ABAC 2026 Chair is Li Fanrong (China) and the Co-Chairs are Kyuho Lee (Korea) and Ho Sy Hung (Viet Nam), with four (4) working group chairs and one (1) task force chair, namely: Anna Curzon, Regional Economic Integration Working Group (REIWG); Julia Torreblanca, Sustainability Working Group (SWG); Jan De Silva, Digital and Innovation Working Group (DIWG); Zeng Qi, Connectivity Working Group (CWG); and Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Finance and Economics Task Force (FETF).
For further information please contact:
Mr. Guillermo Luz, ABAC Philippines Email: secretariat@abac.ph