The Philippines says hosting the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Manila will be a chance to present the country as an investment destination and showcase its economic potential. The summit runs from 15 to 17 November at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Palace Press Officer Clarissa Castro told a briefing on Tuesday that business, trade, investment, jobs, and food and energy supply all stood to benefit from the gathering. She said hosting ASEAN would let the Philippines show the world that the country was a good place to put capital.

Trump and Lula among confirmed guests

United States President Donald Trump is among the leaders confirmed to attend, the Palace said earlier. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been invited to take part in the summit plenary as Guest of the Chair, and will make an official state visit to the Philippines on 14 and 15 November, the first by a sitting Brazilian president.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is also among the confirmed participants, and leaders of every ASEAN country apart from Myanmar are expected to attend, with Myanmar represented by a career diplomat. Nearly 20 heads of state are expected to converge on Metro Manila for the summit.

Digital economy pact on the agenda

The Philippines also expects a regional digital economy agreement to be among the main outcomes of the summit. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim has described the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement as the first agreement worldwide to establish binding commitments for a regional digital economy, covering a region of more than 680 million people.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visited the venue on Tuesday as part of final preparations. The Palace urged groups to raise their concerns ahead of the summit rather than staging demonstrations during the arrival of foreign leaders, and said the government would address any transport disruption from a transport strike announced for 16 November.