THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) kicked off its chairship of the Asean Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) in Coron, Palawan.
The Philippines’ hosting of the 2026 Asean began on Jan. 1, with the theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” and 650 related meetings throughout the year.
Through ACFM, the SEC aims to collectively “RISE” with fellow Asean capital market regulators by advancing regional integration, inclusivity, sustainable finance, and collaborative enforcement.
RISE is an acronym for:
Regional integration: Accelerating the connectivity of Asean financial ecosystems;
Inclusivity: Supporting domestic market growth and ensuring broader access to capital;
Sustainable finance: Advancing Asean Taxonomy and mandating sustainability reporting;
E for Collaborative enforcement: Establishing platforms like the ACMF Knowledge Network for supervisory and enforcement directors to build mutual trust and cooperation.
“The ACMF is invaluable in enabling us to work closely with our regional peers to deliver practical initiatives that accelerate the integration of Asean’s financial ecosystems, while supporting the growth of our domestic market,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said.
As part of its RISE agenda, the SEC is targeting the Priority Economic Deliverables on sustainable and resilient capital markets.
Initiatives include the publication of an Asean Code of Conduct for External Verifiers in Sustainable Finance, expansion of the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard Regional Assessment; establishment of an ACMF Knowledge Network of Supervisory and Enforcement Directors; completion of the next phase of the Mitigation co-benefit and Adaptation for Resilience (mARs) Guide; and promotion of Asean as an asset class through the Asean Diamonds initiative.
“We aim to translate shared priorities into concrete initiatives that will strengthen investor confidence and support long-term economic growth across the region,” Lim added.
The ACMF, formed in 2004 under the auspices of Asean finance ministers, is mandated to develop a deep, liquid, and integrated regional capital market.
It adopts a pragmatic approach that allows member states to participate in regional initiatives based on their respective market readiness.
The SEC assumed the ACMF chairship following a handover ceremony in Kuala Lumpur in November 2025.
This month, it also hosted the first in-person meeting of the Asean Taxonomy Board in Makati, reflecting its active support for the continued development and implementation of the Asean Taxonomy, a multi-tiered guide and common framework for classifying sustainable projects and economic activities.
Meanwhile, ACMF deputies convened their first meeting to set the forum’s direction for the year across key workstreams, including market connectivity, sustainable finance, corporate governance, and digital assets.
The SEC likewise hosted the first preparatory meeting for the ACMF Knowledge Network of Supervisory and Enforcement Directors, which aims to strengthen supervisory and enforcement practices, enhance technical cooperation, and build mutual trust among Asean regulators.
Regulators from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam participated in the meetings.
More Asean-related events are scheduled throughout the year, including the ACMF chairs’ meeting in March, where strategic guidance and key issues elevated from the deputies’ level will be discussed.