OPENING REMARKS FOR THE HANDOVER CEREMONY
Arsenio M. Balisacan, PhD
Secretary, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD):
Council Meeting at the Ministerial Level
03 June 2025 | 10:00 AM | OECD Headquarters, Paris, France
<Salutations>
Secretary-General Mathias Cormann,
Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn,
Honorable Nguyen Van Thang,
Honorable Maninder Sidhu,
Honorable Don Farrell,
Members of the OECD,
Esteemed delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development of the Republic of the Philippines is honored to accept the co-chairship of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme alongside our esteemed partner, the Government of Canada.
This moment represents more than an institutional milestone — it reflects our shared commitment to advancing sustainable and inclusive development across Southeast Asia.
Through this co-chairship, we welcome opportunities to exchange experiences with regional partners and collaborate on shared priorities in key areas such as private sector engagement, digital economy advancement, and innovation promotion.
Canada has long been a steadfast partner of the Philippines in meeting its development goals. Canada’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and sustainable development aligns closely with the Philippines’ national priorities.
We are committed to ensuring the Southeast Asia Regional Programme remains adaptive to evolving needs while building upon our established achievements. As Co-Chairs with Canada, we will foster deeper engagement between Southeast Asian nations and the OECD to focus on global challenges, particularly sustainable infrastructure, corporate social responsibility, and inclusive economic development.
Recognizing Southeast Asia’s unique climate vulnerabilities, the Programme will be a platform to tackle climate action through coordinated adaptation and mitigation strategies, green finance solutions, and knowledge sharing on sustainable development practices.
The Philippines brings to this role a deep understanding of the region’s diverse economies, valuable experience in navigating complex development challenges, and an unwavering commitment to inclusive growth. We envision the Programme as a dynamic platform that not only facilitates policy dialogue but also drives tangible improvements in the lives of our people.
We thank the OECD, the outgoing Co-Chairs — Australia and Vietnam — and all member countries and regional partners for entrusting us with this critical responsibility. We also express our enthusiasm for working closely with our Programme counterparts, whose expertise and commitment to international cooperation are well recognized.
To our OECD partners, Canada, and all the Programme stakeholders, we do not take this responsibility lightly. The Philippines is committed to ensuring that the Southeast Asia Regional Programme continues to evolve as a responsive and effective mechanism for addressing the region’s development priorities.
Thank you for this honor and opportunity. We look forward to our productive partnership in the years ahead.
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