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DTI Sec. Cristina Roque. Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News/FILE

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DTI eyes Creative Industry, Women-Led Firms as key focus of ASEAN 2026

Mon Rodelas

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770816441909dti.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">DTI Sec. Cristina Roque. <em>Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News/FILE </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines is set to push the creative industry and women-led enterprises to the forefront of regional discussions as it prepares for ASEAN 2026, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Wednesday.</p><p>DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque expressed optimism over the country’s hosting of ASEAN 2026, urging stakeholders to actively participate and contribute to shaping the regional agenda.</p><p>While usual topics such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, minerals, semiconductors, and agricultural business will remain part of the discussions, she said new priority areas will also be highlighted. Among these is the creative industry, which Roque described as one of the Philippines’ strengths and a potential “driver of trade and tourism.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/11/25/dti-shares-economic-deliverables-for-asean-2026-1129">DTI shares economic deliverables for ASEAN 2026</a></div><p>She noted that countries like South Korea have successfully leveraged their creative sectors to boost global influence and economic growth.</p><p>“We feel that the creative industry is one of the strengths of the Philippines. So, we feel this would be a driver for trade and tourism,” Roque said. “We are talking about creative industry as a whole. So, there’s singers, dancers, musicians, artists. We also have game designers, game and anime designers.”</p><p>The DTI also plans to spotlight women-led businesses and women in entrepreneurship. “We will also be highlighting the women-led businesses, women in business,” she said, adding that they will also focus on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) development, digitalization, and energy cooperation.</p><p>Roque said preparations are underway, with an initial kickoff set on February 24, followed by the arrival of ASEAN trade ministers from March 11 to 13.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2025/1/29/dti-to-boost-digitalization-use-ai-for-consumer-protection-1652">DTI to boost digitalization, AI technology use for consumer protection</a></div>

<p>The Philippines is set to push the creative industry and women-led enterprises to the forefront of regional discussions as it prepares for ASEAN 2026, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Wednesday.</p>

The Philippines is set to push the creative industry and women-led enterprises to the forefront of regional discussions as it prepares for ASEAN 2026, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Wednesday.

DTI eyes creative industry, women-led firms as key focus of ASEAN 2026

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DTI eyes creative industry, women-led firms as key focus of ASEAN 2026

Mon Rodelas,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 11, 2026 10:07 PM PHT

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DTI

ASEAN 2026

Ma. Cristina Roque

Creative Industry

Women-led enterprises

Economy

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