Arrival Statement by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. from His Working Visit to New Delhi, Republic of India

Members of the Press,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have successfully concluded our participation in the 18th BRICS Summit here in New Delhi.

I wish to convey once more my deepest appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government and people of India for their warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements extended to myself and my delegation.

I also extend our warmest congratulations to India for its successful stewardship and hosting of this milestone summit.

Our presence in New Delhi served a two-fold mission:

– First, to represent our regional community as 2026 ASEAN Chair and Country Coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations; and

– Second, to deepen and advance our bilateral Strategic Partnership with India.

The seat accorded to ASEAN at the 18th BRICS Summit is a testament to the stature, credibility, and convening power of our organization.

It affirms ASEAN’s indispensable role in the wider global economic dialogue and in steering discussions that directly affect the prosperity and security of our region.

Speaking on behalf of nearly 700 million people across 11 dynamic Southeast Asian nations during the Summit’s Open Session with Outreach Countries, I articulated ASEAN’s
open, inclusive, and outward-looking posture.

Guided by our Chairship theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” I presented ASEAN’s practical pathways to weather external geopolitical and economic shocks through our three core priorities:

– Peace and Security Anchors;

– Prosperity Corridors; and

– People Empowerment.

These priorities mirror the themes championed by India’s BRICS Chairship—resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.

Our engagement with BRICS was guided by our principled belief in ASEAN Centrality and constructive bridge-building, showing that practical partnerships can address pressing global challenges.

Certainly, our visit’s other rationale and highlight was the opportunity for Prime Minister Modi and I to once again sit down to pick up on our discussions in August last year, also in New Delhi.

We took stock of the progress made in the past year since our countries established our Strategic Partnership and adopted the Five-Year Plan of Action for 2025–2029.

Prime Minister Modi and I were satisfied that the Philippines and India are resolutely translating our Partnership Declaration into concrete work, progress, and results in science and technology, digital cooperation, artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology, creative industries, health and pharmaceuticals, railway developments, space cooperation, and stronger links between our two peoples.

Prime Minister Modi and I also paid due attention in our discussions to the larger question that impacts our regional stability, our economic security, and the future of the Indo-Pacific.

To these, our two governments’ response will be joint and committed action.

I was also pleased to personally convey to Prime Minister Modi of the Philippines’ decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), an India-led initiative that brings countries together to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure against increasingly complex climate and disaster risks.

The Philippines stands to gain from its CDRI membership since its goals are very much aligned with our climate change programs.

We also devoted time in New Delhi to draw lessons from India, connecting with players and representatives of leading Indian companies to discuss opportunities in the Philippines.

During high-level business engagements with leading Indian companies and industry executives, I underscored the Philippines’ commitment to accelerating digital transformation, upgrading transport and logistics infrastructure, and driving financial inclusion.

The discussions focused on deepening cooperation in digital technology, airport infrastructure, digital payment ecosystems, IT-BPO services, and advanced electronics manufacturing—key sectors that will enhance the country’s innovation framework, optimize vital public services, and support sustained economic expansion.

I highlighted the Philippines’ strategic position as a prime investment location in Southeast Asia, driven by a dynamic digital economy, a skilled workforce, and targeted economic reforms that continue to draw high-value, technology-driven investments from trusted regional partners.

In one-on-one meetings with top executives, we discussed GMR Group and its partnership with Cavitex Holdings Inc. on the development of the Sangley Point International Airport, a landmark project expected to draw in direct investment and ease congestion at NAIA.

iSON Group reaffirmed its earlier commitment to invest up to 300 million dollars over 10 years to expand its telecommunications tower network, and outlined new and expanded investment plans across renewable energy, agro-tech, digital healthcare, and business process outsourcing.

Discussions with NPCI International centered on advancing a proposed partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines to modernize the country’s real-time payment infrastructure, and on exploring interoperability between India’s Unified Payments Interface and QR PH to enable seamless cross-border transactions for consumers, businesses, and travelers.

In an executive roundtable with top leadership from HCLTech, Cognizant, Hinduja Group, and VVDN Technologies, we explored opportunities for expanding high-value investments in IT services, AI-driven operations, customer experience management, and advanced electronics design and manufacturing.

These engagements reaffirm the strong confidence of Indian business leaders in the Philippine economy and support our vision of establishing the country as a competitive, innovation-driven, and future-ready investment destination.

I thank Prime Minister Modi and the Government and the people of India once again for their friendship and their hospitality. I look forward to receiving Prime Minister Modi in Manila this November.

I also thank my fellow Leaders for the substantive exchanges that we had during the Summit.

We return home with a clearer understanding of a changing global landscape and of where the Philippines and ASEAN must position ourselves within it.

Our task now is to turn that understanding into action—to widen our economic opportunities and to ensure that the changes taking place around us ultimately work to the advantage of our people.

Maraming salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!

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