ASEAN Economic Ministers Back PH Bid to Host Creative Industry Center

The Philippines is advancing its bid to host the planned ASEAN Center of Excellence for Creative Industries (ACE-CI), with the country targeting its launch by 2028. ASEAN economic ministers have agreed on the center's establishment, a move that will bolster the development of creative industries across the bloc. According to ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) Philippines senior adviser for creative economy Junie del Mundo, economic ministers have agreed in principle on the center's establishment, and the Philippines' hosting proposal is now being fine-tuned by regional economic ministers. This is expected to be presented at the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in November. "What they are now looking at is that they are basically just finalizing the economic declarations. That’s what the economic ministers are doing at the moment," del Mundo told reporters. "They have already agreed that it’s going to be a joint initiative because of course, you also need the sociocultural side because of the cultural assets that will come from there, and then you need the economic side, so now it’s basically harmonized." The establishment of the ACE-CI has been identified as one of the Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairship. If approved, the center will be housed at the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Hall in Pasay City. Del Mundo expressed confidence in the Philippines' chances of hosting, citing that the country proposed the initiative and is the current ASEAN chair. He emphasized that the Philippines should capitalize on its role as this year's ASEAN host, noting that Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia have also expressed interest in hosting the ACE-CI. A joint study by ASEAN-BAC Philippines and Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines found that while Southeast Asia is rich in creativity, opportunities remain in capturing and scaling the value generated by the creative economy. The research highlights opportunities "where value is already being created, where more can be captured, and where focused attention and action can make a difference." This opportunity aims to enable more creativity to become sustainable livelihoods and stronger enterprises, and for creators to share more fully in the value they create.