The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Philippines will host the 44th ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) Chairs’ Meeting on Thursday (March 26) in Boracay Island, reaffirming its commitment to driving regional capital market integration, inclusivity, and stronger enforcement, thereby advancing the growth of Southeast Asia’s capital markets.
As ACMF Chair, the SEC Philippines will convene chief securities regulators from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
Building on the discussions from the previous ACMF Deputies’ Meeting held in Coron last January, the Chairs’ Meeting will deliberate on and provide strategic guidance on key issues raised by the Forum’s working groups to advance market connectivity, sustainable finance, corporate governance and digital assets, among others, in support of the continued development of ASEAN capital markets.
“ASEAN Member States share the common goal of delivering innovative and expanded investment opportunities that empower every business and investor in the region. However, achieving this requires ensuring the security and protection of investors’ money amid the ever-evolving financial landscape,” said SEC Philippines Chairperson Francis Lim.
“The ACMF Chairs’ Meeting provides an opportunity to collaborate with our regional peers in crafting tangible measures that advance our capital markets, including cross-border investor protection mechanisms to combat fraud. This will contribute significantly to reinforcing public trust and confidence in the region’s business sector, further promoting ASEAN’s position globally as an attractive hub for investments,” he added.
Anchored on the “RISE” agenda, the Chairship of the SEC Philippines places premium on Regional integration, Inclusivity, Sustainable finance and collaborative Enforcement, in line with the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together” and the ACMF Action Plan 2026 to 2030.
Following this, the SEC Philippines aims to fulfil the Priority Economic Deliverable on Sustainable and Resilient Capital Markets through high-impact initiatives, including the establishment of the ASEAN Knowledge Network of Supervisory and Enforcement Directors, the publication of an ASEAN Code of Conduct for External Verifiers in Sustainable Finance, and the expansion of the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard Regional Assessment.
The Commission also targets to complete the next phase of Mitigation co-benefit and Adaptation for Resilience (mARs) Guide and promote ASEAN as an asset class.
Formed in 2004 under the guidance of ASEAN finance ministers, the ACMF is mandated to develop a “deep, liquid, and integrated regional capital market” by implementing initiatives that allow its member states to participate in regional activities based on their market readiness, recognizing the diversity of development across ASEAN markets. (PR)
