The 13th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (13th AFMGM) and Related Meetings were held from April 7 to 10 in a virtual format under the Philippines’ 2026 Chairmanship, themed ‘Navigating Our Future, Together’.
Acting Permanent Secretary (Fiscal I) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy Haji Asrul Adrain bin Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Ahmad, and Managing Director of the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB) Hajah Rashidah binti Haji Sabtu represented Brunei Darussalam.
The series of meetings began with dialogues between ASEAN finance ministers and central bank governors with international financial institutions – the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group (WBG) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), as well as regional business councils such as the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), European Union-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and United States-ASEAN Business Council
The engagements focused on joint initiatives and partner support to strengthen ASEAN regional collaboration in addressing multifaceted challenges and seizing opportunities to ensure long-term economic resilience and sustainability.
At the 13th AFMGM, in welcoming the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship priorities, the finance ministers and central bank governors appreciated the progress and discussed areas of cooperation, including capital markets development, sustainable finance, regional payments connectivity and other initiatives under the Roadmap for Financial and Monetary Integration in ASEAN and the AFMGM process. During the meetings, Haji Asrul Adrain, among others, expressed appreciation to the Philippines for its leadership as ASEAN Chair in 2026 and welcomed the finance initiatives under this year’s priority economic deliverables.
In advancing these priorities, Brunei Darussalam looks forward to sustained policy dialogue, peer learning and greater engagement with ASEAN’s external partners and the private sector.
It also appreciated progress in ASEAN financial cooperation, including the ASEAN Single Window, ASEAN Treasury Forum and infrastructure development through the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund.
Related to this, deepened engagements to secure trade and supply chain connectivity; mainstream climate action initiatives; as well as streamlined and focused coordination between the finance track and other sectoral committees such as health, disaster risk management and food security, were also emphasised.
It also recognised the contribution of regional cooperation to Brunei Darussalam’s domestic priorities and subsequently shared its national budget focus on strengthening fiscal stability and governance, empowering the economy through transformation and innovation; and ensuring social sustainability and future development; and welcomed strengthened support from IMF, WBG and ADB in mobilising resources, providing policy advice and delivering targeted knowledge sharing.
Such collaboration would be particularly important to close infrastructure gaps, enhance ASEAN’s competitiveness and boost socio-economic development. – James Kon
Source: Asianews
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<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
