Philippines hosts MIC forum next week in Makati

The Philippines will host high-level meetings for middle-income countries (MICs) next week in Makati City to address challenges such as inequality, climate vulnerability, and access to technology.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo stated that around 200 senior officials from like-minded MICs, along with representatives from UN agencies, civil society groups, and global financial institutions, will join the forum to discuss topics including financing for MICs, green transitions, and growth in the digital age.

The conference aims to address outdated models of development and support MICs' progression towards upper-middle-income status, while also issuing the Manila Declaration on Middle-Income Countries.

UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral highlighted that this conference is a testament to Manila's commitment to multilateralism and global cooperation for development, aiming to elevate the voice of MICs in the global stage.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo emphasized the need to reshape outdated metrics and models in development assistance to better suit middle-income countries' unique needs, stressing that these nations should assert more influence in shaping international discussions.

National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan reiterated the Philippines' goal of graduating to upper-middle-income status by 2026, noting concerns about potential penalties associated with reaching higher income levels.