Marcos urges ASEAN-GCC trade expansion beyond traditional sectors

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. emphasized during the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit on Tuesday that current trade patterns between ASEAN and Gulf nations remain limited.

Marcos urged expansion beyond traditional trade by leveraging complementary strengths in digital economies, energy resources, investment capital, and logistics infrastructure, while also pushing for greater contributions to climate finance mechanisms like the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).

He noted strong potential for collaboration in halal trade and standard harmonization, highlighting ASEAN's diverse halal food industry and the GCC's established consumer base and certification systems.

The President stressed the need for a mutually-recognized halal certification regime to enhance trust and reduce regulatory friction, creating export opportunities for MSMEs and agri-food producers, while also advocating for continued upskilling and labor protection measures for over 2.7 million ASEAN citizens working abroad, including more than two million overseas Filipino workers.

Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines' bid for a nonpermanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term and pledged to strengthen global partnerships, including with the GCC, as the country prepares to head ASEAN in 2026.