Kuala Lumpur: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has urged the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to enhance their cooperation on digital and halal trade. During the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia, Marcos emphasized the strategic importance of ASEAN-GCC economic relations, highlighting the regions' rich natural and human capital and their shared aspirations for prosperity and sustainable development.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos noted that while there is significant potential, current trade patterns remain limited and concentrated. He advocated for moving beyond traditional trade and capitalizing on the complementary strengths between ASEAN's growing digital economy and the GCC's energy, investment capital, and logistics infrastructure. Marcos proposed co-creating resilient supply chains, sustainable energy solutions, and innovation-driven ecosystems.

Marcos highlighted the potential of expanding collaboration in halal trade and standards harmonization. He stressed the importance of establishing a mutually recognized halal certification regime to enhance trust, reduce regulatory friction, and create a powerful export platform for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and agri-food producers. He pointed out that ASEAN's diverse halal food industry, combined with the GCC's established halal consumer base and certification systems, presents an opportunity for a seamless halal value chain.

Citing the ongoing work on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), Marcos suggested that the 10-member regional bloc could engage with GCC member-states to advance interoperable digital standards, fintech collaboration, emerging technologies, and cross-border e-commerce platforms. He emphasized the timeliness of cooperation in e-commerce and digital trade as global trade shifts online.

The ASEAN-GCC Summit is focused on strengthening the cooperation framework between ASEAN and Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The summit aims to enhance partnerships in areas such as energy security, food stability, and economic cooperation. The Philippines serves as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-GCC Relations.