Start Date
May 25, 2026 at 2:56 PM
End Date
May 26, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Venue
Tokyo International Forum Hall
The 66th East Asia Business Council (EABC) Meeting was successfully held on May 25, 2026 at the Tokyo International Forum, Japan, bringing together business leaders, industry representatives, regional organisations, and stakeholders from ASEAN Plus Three economies to discuss key regional economic priorities, trade integration, sustainability, and business resilience amid an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
Chaired by Mr. Jay Y. Yuvallos, EABC Chair for 2026 from the Philippines, and co-chaired by Mr. Tetsuya Matsuoka of Japan, the meeting featured special remarks by Mr. Joey Concepcion, ASEAN-BAC Philippines Chair, as well as a regional economic outlook presentation by Mr. Yasuto Watanabe, Director/CEO of the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), focusing on ASEAN+3 and the shifting global trade order, supply chain resilience, investment flows, and regional economic prospects.
During the meeting, EABC members deliberated on the Council’s 2026 work programme under the theme “Reinforcing Trust, Integration, and Sustainability in the East Asia Economic Architecture”, covering key pillars including sustainability and circular economy, regional value chain and RCEP integration, governance reforms, digital trade facilitation, and MSME resilience.
Among the key highlights was the advancement of the East Asia Circularity Agenda, including the development of the East Asia Circularity Roadmap 2030, Green Business Diagnostics Toolkit, and regional training programmes on circular economy, resource efficiency, waste-to-value solutions, and ESG compliance for MSMEs.
Members also reviewed updates on the EABC-JETRO Business Outlook Survey 2026, which aims to gather regional private sector feedback on business conditions, RCEP utilisation, supply chain resilience, digital trade, cross-border payments, and circular economy readiness across ASEAN Plus Three economies.
The meeting further discussed preparations for upcoming regional engagements including the 1st RCEP Business and Investment Summit in Manila, the East Asia Business Forum 2026, as well as EABC dialogues with ASEAN Plus Three economic officials and ministers later this year.
Following the 66th EABC Meeting, the East Asia Business Forum 2026 was held on May 26, 2026 in Tokyo, jointly organised by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI/TCCI), and the East Asia Business Council (EABC). The Forum served as a regional dialogue platform to promote trade, investment, and stronger economic cooperation between Japan and ASEAN amid rising global uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.
The Forum highlighted the importance of strengthening resilient and sustainable regional supply chains through greater utilisation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), while leveraging the unique role of EABC as the only regional business platform bringing together ASEAN, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea under one framework. Discussions focused on regional connectivity, supply chain diversification, energy and logistics resilience, digital trade facilitation, and practical pathways to reinforce East Asia’s long-term economic integration and competitiveness.
