In a historic move signaling a renewed push for regional economic integration, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Philippines will host the inaugural ASEAN-BAC Retreat from 7 to 8 July 2025. The event, set in Makati City, marks the first-ever strategic gathering of the Council and is seen as a pivotal reset in ASEAN’s private sector engagement.
Announced by ASEAN-BAC Philippines chairman Joey Concepcion, the retreat aims to redefine the Council’s mandate and relevance amid global disruptions, under the theme “ASEAN-BAC Reimagined.” It will also serve as the soft launch of the Philippines’ ASEAN-BAC Chairmanship in 2026, reinforcing the country’s leadership role in promoting inclusive, innovation-driven growth across Southeast Asia.
Co-led by 2025 chairman Tan Sri Nazir Razak of Malaysia and incoming 2026 chairman Concepcion, the retreat will convene top business leaders, senior officials, diplomats, and development partners—underscoring a whole-of-nation approach to ASEAN economic cooperation.
“This is not just a meeting—it is a reset,” said Razak, highlighting the need for ASEAN-BAC to evolve as an effective platform for private sector collaboration.
Global consultancy McKinsey & Company will facilitate the retreat to help sharpen strategic priorities and reinforce ASEAN-BAC’s role in accelerating integration and public-private cooperation.
The retreat will also create continuity between Malaysia’s 2025 theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability” and the Philippines’ 2026 agenda: “Driving ASEAN Prosperity: Further, Faster, Together.”
