LAPU-LAPU CITY — Southeast Asian leaders and European business executives will gather in Cebu this week, setting the stage for high-level talks on economic resilience and sustainability as the region confronts mounting energy and supply chain challenges.
Organizers will hold the Asean-EU Sustainability Summit on May 7, a day before the 48th Asean Summit, bringing together more than 200 representatives from government, business, development institutions and civil society.
The inaugural summit comes as Southeast Asia grapples with worsening energy pressures, with Cebu hosting the event amid a declared national energy emergency.
Leaders and stakeholders will focus on strengthening resilience and sustaining growth through deeper Asean-EU cooperation and stronger public-private partnerships.
Discussions will tackle key priorities under the Philippines’ 2026 Asean Chairmanship, including energy transition and green finance, circular economy development, sustainable trade and supply chains, and climate-resilient agriculture.
Participants will also examine how private sector involvement can translate these priorities into scalable solutions.
The program will feature a ministerial panel with Finance Secretary Frederick Go and Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of National Development Planning Leonardo A. A. Teguh Sambodo.
EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro will join a dialogue with Climate Change Commission Vice Chairman and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, while Asean Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, EU Ambassador to Asean Sujiro Seam and European Commission representatives are expected to participate virtually.
Organizers emphasized that Asean and the European Union must deepen cooperation to address overlapping crises in energy, economy and supply chains, highlighting the summit as a platform to push long-term partnerships and practical collaboration.
“We’re facing multiple crises at once — energy, economic and supply chain challenges that no party can address alone,” said Chris Humphrey, executive director of the EU-Asean Business Council.
“Asean and the EU should look to each other for a reliable, long-term partnership built on shared ambitions for sustainable economic growth,” he added.
Business leaders also underscored the need to convert existing Asean-EU momentum into concrete initiatives, particularly by leveraging European-backed programs such as the Global Gateway to support sustainable development across the region.
Private sector representatives stressed the importance of strengthening supply chain systems to guard against disruptions and illicit trade, while supporting enforcement frameworks and capacity-building across Asean economies.
“As Asean faces economic strain, strengthening supply chain resilience has become a critical priority,” said Rodney van Dooren, director of Illicit Trade Prevention at Philip Morris International.
“Ensuring sustainability and protecting legitimate trade during periods of disruption requires systems that balance efficiency with safeguards, so illicit activity cannot exploit vulnerabilities in lawful supply chains,” he added.
The summit will also address growing concerns over food security, as agricultural sectors face fertilizer shortages and rising production costs.
Industry stakeholders highlighted the need to invest in preventive measures, strengthen veterinary systems and support farmers to protect livelihoods and ensure stable food supply chains.
The event, jointly organized by the EU-Asean Business Council and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, is endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry, and supported by international companies and regional partners.
The sustainability summit will take place alongside the 48th Asean Summit and Related Meetings scheduled from May 6 to 8 in Cebu City.
Southeast Asian leaders will convene under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” aiming to advance regional cooperation and deliver meaningful outcomes for Asean communities.
Following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., organizers compressed the original five-day schedule into a three-day program that includes preparatory meetings and key engagements such as the Asean Summit Plenary, Retreat and the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East Asean Growth Area Special Summit.
Leaders will address urgent regional concerns, including energy security, food security and the safety of Asean nationals, while also discussing the impact of ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the need for stability and collective action.
Officials said the Philippines aims to deliver a secure and efficient summit while highlighting Cebu’s growing role as a hub for business and investment, backed by its strategic location, infrastructure and skilled workforce.