Foreign Trade Service Officer Jeremiah C. Reyes speaks into a microphone while seated alongside other panelists during a discussion on a regional approach to the creative economy.
Foreign Trade Service Officer Jeremiah C. Reyes at the panel discussion on regional approach to creative economy.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) championed the Philippine creative economy at the ASEAN-UK Symposium on the Development of the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework held on 20-21 February 2025. The event convened over 100 policymakers, academics, and industry leaders from ASEAN member states and the United Kingdom to explore strategies for fostering sustainable development in the creative economy.

Representing the FTSC, Foreign Trade Service Officer Jeremiah C. Reyes presented the Philippines’ stance during the panel discussion tackling the region’s approach to the creative economy. The discussion also underscored ASEAN’s collective efforts to advance cultural and creative industries, emphasizing the role of regional collaboration in shaping a sustainable and inclusive creative economy.

The symposium highlighted the creative sector’s significant economic contributions, with the global creative industry valued at approximately US$2.5 trillion, accounting for 6.1% of global GDP. The participants collaborated to develop the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework, a strategic document that will serve as a guide for long-term growth and cooperation among ASEAN member states.

Apart from engaging panel discussions and workshops, the symposium explored the cultural, economic, environmental, and social dimensions crucial to the development of creative industries. These sessions facilitated the identification of key priorities and institutional mechanisms necessary to drive sustainable regional development.

With the support of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Jakarta (PTIC-Jakarta) Commercial Counsellor Jollan Margaret Llaneza, the FTSC’s participation in the symposium underscored the Philippines’ dedication to advancing the creative economy in the region. As the country prepares for its ASEAN Chairship in 2026, this engagement reaffirms its leadership in regional cooperation and its role in shaping sustainable policies for the sector’s growth.

Four panelists are seated on a stage in armchairs, facing the audience. A large screen behind them shows their names, photos, and titles (including “Mr Giorgio Fazio,” “Ms Karen Shepherd,” and others). The panelists are dressed in business attire, with the man on the far right holding a microphone and gesturing as he speaks. Small tables with water glasses sit in front of each panelist. They are engaged in a discussion about a regional approach to the creative economy.
Panel discussion on regional approach to creative economy.
A group of seven individuals stands in front of several ASEAN member flags, all wearing business or semi-formal attire and smiling for the camera. They appear to be representatives from cultural and government organizations, gathered at an event.
IN PHOTO:  Foreign Trade Service Officer Jeremiah C. Reyes (third from left), Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Jakarta Commercial Counsellor Jollan Margaret Llaneza (center) together with the representatives from the Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Youth Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat.

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Date of release: 13 March 2025

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