Manila, Philippines – From 21 to 25 September, AESA’s Southeast Asia Department conducted a key visit to Manila, focusing on deepening partnerships and advancing project implementation in the region.

The week was centered on two primary objectives.

The first was the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Business Opportunities Fair. Held over five days at ADB headquarters, the event provided a premier opportunity to gain insights into the Bank’s strategic direction and upcoming operations. It also served as a vital platform to reconnect with established partners and forge connections with new organisations.

The second objective was to follow up on the ground for the recently awarded, EU-funded project, the Cooperation Facility for the Philippines.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the European Representative Office (ERO) for hosting the “ADB & Europe: Stronger Together” event, which celebrated the robust and enduring partnership between ADB and Europe. We also offer special thanks to Ludivine Halbrecq, Alternate Executive Director at ADB, and Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova of the Embassy of Belgium in Manila for their valuable participation.

We would also like to thank all the organisations we had the pleasure of connecting with during our stay. To our long-standing partners, we look forward to our continued collaboration. To those we met for the first time, we anticipate exploring new opportunities for future cooperation.