President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during bilateral meeting to convene the next Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting on July 27, 2023. (PNA)
Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan will lead the Malaysian delegation, alongside senior government officials. He will co-chair the meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro.
The JCM serves as the countries’ highest-level bilateral platform, providing an opportunity to review existing cooperation and address economic uncertainty and wider global challenges. Trade, cross-border investment and efforts to strengthen economic resilience are expected to feature prominently in the discussions.
Both sides are also expected to explore closer collaboration in areas including halal industries, Islamic finance, energy, agriculture and food security. Defence and security cooperation, as well as disaster management and emergency response, will also be on the agenda.
The meeting takes place as the Philippines holds the ASEAN chairmanship for 2026. Malaysia is expected to reaffirm its support for Manila’s regional priorities, including efforts to strengthen stability, coordinate responses to global challenges and sustain economic growth.
The talks will also build on discussions held during the eighth JCM in Kuala Lumpur on October 15 to 16, 2024.
Economic ties between the neighbours have continued to grow. Bilateral trade stood at 35.21 billion Malaysian ringgit (8.22 billion US dollar) in 2025. From January to May 2026, trade increased by 9.5% compared with the same period last year, reaching 16.71 billion Malaysian ringgit (4.21 billion US dollar).
What does this mean for businesses?
The meeting signals that Malaysia and the Philippines are looking to create stronger conditions for cross-border trade and investment. With bilateral trade already reaching 35.21 billion Malaysian ringgit (8.22 billion US dollar) in 2025 and rising 9.5% in the first five months of 2026, closer government cooperation could provide further opportunities for companies operating across both markets. Areas such as halal industries, Islamic finance, energy, agriculture and food security are expected to receive particular attention, potentially creating new avenues for private-sector partnerships and investment. The focus on economic resilience could also support efforts to strengthen supply chains and reduce exposure to wider global uncertainties.
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