THE Philippines is pushing for deeper capital market integration across Southeast Asia as the region seeks to position itself as a unified investment destination for global investors.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Javey Paul Francisco highlighted the Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s (Asean) efforts to improve market connectivity, comparability and investor confidence during the inaugural Asean Investment Roadshow in London.
Last month’s event brought together global asset managers, institutional investors and capital market participants to discuss Asean’s long-term investment opportunities and its potential as an increasingly integrated asset class.
Francisco joined regulators and financial market leaders from across the region in a discussion organized by the Securities Commission Malaysia in partnership with FTSE Russell, with support from the Asean Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) and the Asian Development Bank.
He said Asean was deliberately working toward becoming a more integrated asset class despite differences in regulation, infrastructure and market development among member states.
The effort seeks to make it easier for global investors to compare, access and invest across Asean markets through greater regulatory cooperation and market connectivity.
The roadshow was part of the ACMF’s 2026–2030 Action Plan, which identifies “Asean as an Asset Class” as a strategic priority during the Philippines’ chairmanship of the regional body.
Francisco also cited initiatives aimed at strengthening cross-border investment frameworks, improving the interoperability of sustainable finance frameworks and promoting greater convergence in sustainability disclosures.
The SEC commissioner highlighted the Philippines’ leadership of the ACMF Corporate Governance Working Group, particularly its work to modernize the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard.
He said the scorecard was being developed beyond a compliance-focused assessment toward a framework that can help investors determine whether corporate governance mechanisms lead to stronger oversight, accountability and long-term value creation.
Francisco also discussed the SEC’s phased adoption of Philippine Financial Reporting Standards S1 and S2, which are aligned with the International Sustainability Standards Board’s sustainability disclosure standards.
He said stronger sustainability disclosures could improve the comparability of financial information across Asean markets while taking into account differences in market readiness.
The Philippines and Singapore are likewise advancing regional cooperation on market supervision and enforcement through the ACMF Enforcement and Supervision Working Group and the Knowledge Network of Supervisory and Enforcement Directors.
The initiatives seek to strengthen information sharing, capacity building and early-warning mechanisms against cross-border market misconduct and emerging risks.
The Asean Investment Roadshow in London marked the ACMF’s first joint regional investment promotion initiative in a global financial center.
