[July 24, 2026 | Mandaluyong City, Philippines] - The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Philippines continued to build its network of strategic partners for the Philippines' ASEAN Chairship in 2026 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Universal Leaf Philippines Inc. (ULPI) last July 24, 2026, as they are set to collaborate on sustainability, food security, innovation, and agricultural development.

The agreement was signed by ASEAN-BAC Philippines Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III and ULPI Chairman and President Winston Uy, formalizing the latter's role as a strategic partner in inclusive growth across the region while affirming its support as a Gold Sponsor for ASEAN-BAC Philippines' key programmes and events later this year.

ASEAN-BAC Philippines Chair Jose Ma. Concepcion III joins Universal Leaf Philippines President and Chairman Winston Uy, Executive Secretary Jhalec Dela Rosa, Senior Vice President Nick Curran, Director for Corporate Affairs and Compliance Michee San Pascual, Manager for Corporate Communications CJ Sarmiento, and members of the ASEAN-BAC Philippines and Universal Leaf Philippines teams following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to advance food security, agricultural development, sustainability, and innovation in support of the Philippines' ASEAN Chairship in 2026.

"This MOU reflects a joint commitment to advancing sustainability, food security and agriculture, resilient growth, and social equity across the Philippines and the broader ASEAN region," Concepcion said during the signing ceremony.

He added that the partnership reinforces ASEAN-BAC's collective work to build "a more stable, forward-looking, and economically integrated ASEAN community" by encouraging better cooperation between government and the private sector.

Concepcion also highlighted capital mobilization as a strategic priority, noting the importance of unlocking investments that can accelerate sustainable development and strengthen agricultural resilience throughout the region.

"Today's signing symbolizes a shared commitment where strong public-private dialogue and high-level engagement pave the way for sustainable regional innovation and agricultural development," he added.

For ULPI, the partnership reflects its trust in ASEAN-BAC Philippines' leadership and commitment to contributing to the success of the country's regional agenda. "The ASEAN-BAC is at the forefront of the regional and global stage, and we as Universal Leaf Philippines would really love to make sure this whole thing succeeds. So our partnership today, our sponsorship today is our support for the country, our support for the ASEAN-BAC," Uy said.

He likewise shared his confidence in the council's leadership and conveyed his optimism for the success of its initiatives throughout the year, including the upcoming ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, which will convene business leaders and policymakers from across the region this November.

Joining Uy at the signing were ULPI Senior Vice President Nick Curran, Executive Secretary Jhalec Dela Rosa, Director for Corporate Affairs and Compliance Michee San Pascual, Corporate Communications Manager CJ Sarmiento, and ASEAN BAC Executive Director Patrick Chua.

ULPI is the Philippines’s largest tobacco-growing and processing company. Through its long-standing partnerships with farmers across the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley, the company has been a key figure in boosting and creating agricultural livelihoods by providing financing, technical assistance, and Good Agricultural Practices training to improve crop quality and productivity in the area.

These initiatives, as well as the MOU, align with ASEAN-BAC Philippines' efforts to deepen collaboration with stakeholders across the agriculture sector through the ASEAN Food Security Alliance. Earlier this month, the Council, along with executives from ULPI, participated in a focus group discussion with the Philippine Rice Research Institute in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija to identify opportunities for greater public-private collaboration in building more resilient food systems across ASEAN.

ABOUT ASEAN-BAC PH

The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN‑BAC) is the region’s principal private sector advisory body, providing business insights and recommendations to ASEAN Leaders. It serves as the primary platform for the private sector to engage with policymakers, advocate for economic cooperation, and advance ASEAN’s integration agenda. It was founded in 2001. 

In 2026, ASEAN-BAC Philippines, led by Chair Joey Concepcion alongside Members George Barcelon and Michael Tan, will once again chair and host the Council and its Dialogue Partners, ensuring that private sector priorities are integrated into regional economic development and policy initiatives.

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MEDIA NOTE: All interview requests related to ASEAN-BAC PHILIPPINES should be directed to the ASEAN-BAC PH Communications Manager, at josenatividad@gonegosyo.ph

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