FINTECH | Manila Tech Summit 2026 set to push ASEAN digital economy agenda
The event will carry the theme “Building ASEAN’s Digital Economy: Secure. Sustainable. Inclusive. Borderless.
The Philippines will host the Manila Tech Summit 2026 on July 28 to 29 at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Pasay City, positioning the event as a major regional platform for advancing ASEAN’s digital economy agenda during the country’s chairship of the bloc.
Organized by FinTech Alliance.PH together with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines, Asia FinTech Alliance, ASEAN FinTech Forum, and ASEAN Innovation Business Platform, the summit is expected to gather more than 4,000 policymakers, regulators, investors, technology firms, and digital economy stakeholders from ASEAN and other countries.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to deliver the opening keynote address, alongside industry leaders and experts in finance, technology, and public policy.
The event will carry the theme “Building ASEAN’s Digital Economy: Secure. Sustainable. Inclusive. Borderless.” Organizers said the summit aims to support regional efforts to strengthen digital trade, interoperable payment systems, data governance, and cross-border digital cooperation.
According to FinTech Alliance.PH Founding Chairman Lito Villanueva, the summit is intended to align policy, investment, and technology initiatives to support trusted digital ecosystems across ASEAN.
Government agencies supporting the summit include the Office of the President, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Information and Communications Technology.
A key focus of the summit will be the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), a proposed regional framework aimed at enabling cross-border digital trade, interoperable payments, trusted data flows, and harmonized digital regulations. Organizers said the event will serve as a venue for public and private sector stakeholders to discuss implementation strategies and investment opportunities related to the agreement.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said DEFA could help reduce friction in digital trade and support the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises across the region.
The summit follows recent discussions during the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Cebu, where regional leaders highlighted the need for stronger digital cooperation, resilient infrastructure, and cross-border innovation initiatives.
Sessions at the event are expected to cover topics including agentic AI and intelligent automation, stablecoins and cross-border finance, digital payments, cybersecurity, digital resilience, data governance, and digital infrastructure.
ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines Chairman Joey Concepcion said the summit aims to help accelerate partnerships and investments for a more integrated ASEAN digital economy.
The event will also launch the 2026 Philippine FinTech Report, which organizers described as an industry reference for investors, policymakers, and development institutions.
Initial sponsors include TransUnion, Converge ICT, Huawei, Skyro, Advance AI, Grab, Coins.ph, IDfy, Phi Commerce, Amdocs, and BlockScholes.
International fintech delegates are also expected from member economies of the Asia FinTech Alliance, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Israel, Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, Luxembourg, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.
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