Introduction
In support of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026 and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) will convene the Canada-ASEAN Business Forum 2026 in Manila, the Philippines. Held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS), the Forum will bring together senior government leaders, business executives, and institutional partners to advance the next phase of Canada-ASEAN economic cooperation.
As ASEAN approaches a pivotal moment in its economic trajectory, on track to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030, the Forum will serve as a strategic platform to align policy priorities with private-sector capabilities. It will strengthen the bridge between government and industry, supporting the translation of trade and investment frameworks into tangible commercial partnerships, more resilient supply chains, and sustainable, inclusive growth.
Key Themes & Discussions
Anchored in the Philippines’ Chairmanship theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” the Forum will underscore Canada’s long-term partnership with ASEAN and highlight the private sector’s role in delivering practical outcomes across priority areas - food security, clean energy, infrastructure, innovation, and digital trade.
Canada-ASEAN Relations
Energy Security
Agriculture & Agri-food
Connectivity & Supply Chains
Trade & Investment
Capacity Building
MSME Growth
Agenda
November 15, 2026
Time
Program
Location
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Registration
Grand Ballroom Foyer
8:30 - 8:35 AM
Opening Remarks
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Wayne Farmer, President, Canada-ASEAN Business Council
Main Stage
8:35 - 8:45 AM
Special Opening Plenary: A New Chapter in Canada-ASEAN Relations
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The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada (Invited)
Main Stage
8:45 - 8:55 AM
CEO Spotlight​
Main Stage
8:55 - 9:50 AM
Panel 1: The ASEAN-Canada Momentum: What It Means for Business​​​
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Panelists:
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Mark Lee, Chairman, Singapore Business Federation and CEO, Sing Lun Holdings Limited (Invited)
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JJ Moreno, President & CEO, Sun Life Philippines (Confirmed)
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Arsjad Rasjid, Founder and Chairman, Sriwijaya Capital (Confirmed)
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Paul Tessy, Chief International Officer, Purolator (Confirmed)
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Moderator: The Honourable Mary Ng, Former Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada, and Senior Milken Institute Fellow (Confirmed)
This panel will bring together business leaders to examine where the next wave of commercial opportunity is emerging. Drawing on their experience operating across Canada and Southeast Asia, speakers will discuss the markets and sectors they see driving growth, how shifting supply chains, technology and changing consumer demand are shaping business strategies, and what will influence companies’ decisions to invest and expand across the two regions.
Main Stage
9:50 - 10:00 AM
Canada-ASEAN Business Spotlight​​
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Kelvin Dushnisky, Executive Chair, B2Gold (Confirmed)​
This 10-minute spotlight will showcase B2Gold’s journey as a leading Canadian investor in the Philippines and its contribution to the country’s economic development. Through its long-term presence and investment, B2Gold demonstrates how Canadian businesses can create lasting value through employment, local supply chains and community development, while contributing to responsible resource development. The session will highlight B2Gold’s experience as a tangible example of the growing commercial partnership between Canada and ASEAN and the opportunities for Canadian businesses to grow alongside the region.
Main Stage
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Networking Coffee Break​​
Foyer Area
10:30 - 11:20 AM
Panel 2: Canada, ASEAN and APEC — Supporting MSME Growth and Regional Cooperation​​​
Bringing ASEAN and APEC MSME stakeholders onto the main stage, this panel considers how the two regional platforms can work in greater concert to strengthen the MSME ecosystem across the region. The discussion will address MSME integration into regional and global value chains, digital and technological transformation, and the enabling conditions that allow smaller firms, particularly women-led and marginalized enterprises, to participate in and benefit from deeper economic ties with Canada.
Main Stage
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Parallel Session
Nuclear Energy Roundtable​​
Breakout Room
11:20 AM - 12:10 PM
Panel 3: Strengthening Canada-ASEAN Partnership for Food Security and Resilience​
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Scene-Setting Keynote Speech: H.E. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Secretary of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture of the Philippines​
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Panelists:
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Eric Bienvenue, Canada Beef Association (Confirmed)
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Michael Smart, Director & Chief Representative, Indo-Pacific, FinDev Canada (Confirmed)
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Ernesto Tanmantiong, Global President and CEO, Jollibee (Invited)​
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Moderator: Diedrah Kelly, Executive Director, Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-food Office (Invited)
As ASEAN’s population, incomes, and demand for safe and nutritious food continue to grow, the region must strengthen food security while adapting to the increasing pressures of climate change. This panel will explore how Canada and ASEAN can deepen cooperation across agriculture and agri-food to strengthen food supply and safety, meet ASEAN’s growing protein and nutritional needs, and build more resilient and sustainable food systems. The discussion will highlight how Canadian agricultural products, technology, innovation, and expertise can support ASEAN in adapting to climate-related risks, strengthening agricultural value chains, and developing long-term partnerships that enhance regional food security.
Main Stage
12:10 - 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch​​
Foyer Area
1:30 - 2:00 PM
Fireside Chat with the Ministers
Delivering the Next Phase of Canada-ASEAN Economic Partnership​
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Panelists:
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H.E. Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines (Invited)
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The Hon. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade of Canada (Invited)
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H.E. Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore (Invited)
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Moderator: H.E. Ambra Dickie, Ambassador of Canada to ASEAN (Invited)
With major trade frameworks taking shape, this ministerial conversation will look beyond the negotiations to the next phase of Canada-ASEAN economic cooperation. Ministers will discuss how governments can translate stronger trade architecture into greater commercial activity, investment and business partnerships, and identify the sectors and initiatives where Canada and ASEAN can deliver tangible results over the coming years.
Main Stage
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Parallel Session:
Panel 3: Policy–MSME Dialogue​​​​
Policymakers, MSME support organizations and MSME entrepreneurs will engage in a structured dialogue on enabling policies that enhance MSME competitiveness and resilience. This session provides an opportunity for the Policy Leadership Stream to share key outcomes from the pre-event policy workshops and the Day 1 roundtable, and to engage directly with MSME representatives to exchange perspectives and practical insights.
MSME Stage
2:00 - 2:10 PM
Canada-ASEAN Business Spotlight: Announcement of a Partnership
Main Stage
2:10 - 3:00 PM
Panel 4: Powering ASEAN’s Future: Addressing the Energy Trilemma through Canada-ASEAN Cooperation
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Scene-Setting Keynote Speech: H.E. Sharon Garin, Secretary of Energy of the Philippines
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Panelists:
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Danel C. Aboitiz, President and CEO, Aboitiz Power (Invited)
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Emmanuel “Manny” V. Rubio, President and Chief Executive Officer, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (Invited)
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AtkinsRealis (Invited)
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Petronas (Invited)
ASEAN’s rapidly growing economies face an increasingly complex energy trilemma: meeting rising demand while maintaining energy security, affordability, and progress toward climate objectives. This challenge is becoming more urgent amid a volatile global landscape, where geopolitical disruptions, including risks to critical energy routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, can affect fuel supplies, prices, and investment decisions, while climate change is increasing pressure to build more resilient and lower-carbon energy systems. This panel will explore how Canada and ASEAN can deepen cooperation across power-grid connectivity, renewable and conventional energy, nuclear technology, and resilient infrastructure. The discussion will also examine one of the region’s most persistent challenges: turning energy ambitions into bankable projects, including how governments, development finance institutions, utilities, investors, and the private sector can improve project preparation, risk allocation, financing structures, and regulatory certainty to mobilize the capital required for ASEAN’s energy transition and long-term energy security.
Main Stage
2:30 - 3:30 PM
Parallel Session:
Panel 4: Scale Up to Regional and Global Market​​​​
This panel will feature trade experts from ASEAN and Canada who will discuss the opportunities and potential for ASEAN MSMEs to contribute to, and benefit from, regional and global trade and supply chains.
MSME Stage
3:30 - 4:00 PM
Fireside Chat: Investing in People: Canada and ASEAN Building the Workforce of the Future​
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Scene-Setting Keynote Speech: H.E. Sharon Garin, Secretary of Energy of the Philippines
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Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO, Humber Polytechnic
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TESDA Philippines
As ASEAN economies continue to grow and transform, developing a future-ready workforce will be critical to sustaining competitiveness, innovation, and inclusive growth. This fireside chat will explore how Canada and ASEAN can work together to strengthen human capital through education, skills development, applied learning, research, and closer partnerships between academic institutions and industry. Drawing on Canadian expertise in workforce-oriented education and innovation, the discussion will consider how deeper collaboration can help equip the next generation with the skills needed for a rapidly changing, technology-driven, and increasingly sustainable economy.
Main Stage
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Networking Coffee Break​​
Foyer Area
4:00 - 4:30 PM
Leadership Dialogue: Navigating the New Geoeconomic Landscape: Canada and ASEAN in a Changing World
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The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada (Invited)
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The Honourable Frederick Go, Secretary of Finance of the Philippines (Invited)
Moderator: Jeff Nankivell, President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Against a rapidly evolving global economic and geopolitical landscape, this high-level dialogue will explore the strategic implications for Canada and ASEAN and the future of their economic partnership. The discussion will consider how both regions can strengthen resilience, deepen trade and investment ties, and advance practical cooperation in support of shared prosperity, competitiveness, and long-term economic security.
Main Stage
4:00 - 4:40 PM
Parallel Session:
Project Highlights and Impact Stories Session​​​
This session will mark the official conclusion of ACGBP Phase II implementation by reflecting on the project’s achievements, experiences, and impact. MSME entrepreneurs will share success stories from their participation in the project, implementation partners will reflect on their experience supporting MSMEs, and the ACGBP team will provide an overview of key project results and achievements.
MSME Stage
4:30 - 5:15 PM
Panel 5: Shaping the Next Chapter of Canada-ASEAN Investment​
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Scene-Setting Presentation: Barrett Bingley, Asia Regional Director, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (Confirmed)
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Panelists:
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Cezar Consing, President and CEO, Ayala Corporation (Confirmed)
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Wai Leng Leong, Managing Director, Head of Asia Pacific, La Caisse (Invited)
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Cesar Purisima, Founding Partner, Ikhlas Capital (Invited)
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Invest in Canada (Invited)
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Manulife (Invited)
Canada and ASEAN are entering a new phase in their investment relationship as both seek to diversify economic partnerships and strengthen resilience amid a changing global landscape. The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Investment Monitor 2026 shows a significant shift: ASEAN investment into Canada rose from less than CAD 200 million in 2005-2009 to nearly CAD 19 billion in 2020-2024, while Canadian investment into Southeast Asia declined from nearly CAD 19 billion to CAD 4.5 billion over the same periods. Building on the Canada Investment Summit in September 2026, this panel will bring together institutional investors, private capital leaders, business executives, and legal and advisory experts to examine how both regions can translate strategic interest into investable opportunities. The discussion will explore how sovereign and institutional capital, private equity, infrastructure investors, and corporate partners can identify and structure opportunities across sectors. It will also address the practical conditions that shape investment decisions, including bankability, risk allocation, regulatory certainty, governance, partnerships, and market entry. The panel will ultimately consider how Canada and ASEAN can build a stronger two-way investment pipeline and deepen long-term capital partnerships between the two regions.
Main Stage
4:40 - 5:00 PM
Parallel Session:
ASEAN-APEC Forum Closing Session​​​
ASEAN-APEC Forum Closing Session​​​
MSME Stage
5:15 - 5:25 PM
Insights from the Negotiators on ASEAN-Canada FTA and Canada-Philippines FTA​
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​Insights sharing by Jay Allen, Director General, Trade Negotiations, Global Affairs Canada (Confirmed)
With negotiations for the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement and Canada - Philippines are expected to be substantially concluded this year, this session will provide a first-hand update on the agreements and what businesses can expect next. The session will provide insights into the concluded chapters and key outcomes, the expected benefits and new opportunities for Canadian and ASEAN businesses, and the anticipated pathway toward signature, ratification, and implementation.
Main Stage
5:25 - 5:45 PM
Canada-ASEAN Business Forum Closing Session​​
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Remarks:
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Canada-ASEAN Business Council
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H.E. David Hartman, Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines
Canada-ASEAN Business Forum Closing Session​​
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Wayne Farmer, President, Canada-ASEAN Business Council
Main Stage
5:20 - 5:30 PM
Networking Reception​​
Remarks:
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H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines (Invited)
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Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN​​
Networking Reception
Foyer Area
Tickets
