Regional priorities pushed by DTI chief

TRADE Secretary Cristina Roque and Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong pushed for regional priorities at the Singapore Business Federation’s Asean Conference 2026 held July 30-31 in Manila. The event gathered senior government officials, business leaders, policymakers, and small and medium enterprise stakeholders, as well as key partner economies under the theme “Asean’s Future in a Fractured World.” Roque emphasized the Prosperity Corridors framework, which aims to drive digital integration, market diversification, and economic resilience amid global uncertainties. Among the priorities she highlighted was the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which sets standard rules for digital trade, e-commerce,…