PH to host high-level meet of middle-income states next week

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

HIGH-LEVEL MEET. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (left) on Thursday (April 24, 2025) formally announces the Philippine hosting of the High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries (HLC-MICs) in Makati City on April 28 to 29, 2025. Joining him at the presser are National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan (center) and UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral. (Photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA – The Philippines is set to host the high-level gathering of middle-income countries (MICs) in Makati City next week, which seeks to find solutions and targeted approaches to support the growth trajectories of said states.

The Philippine-chaired conference is an initiative of the Like-Minded Group in support of Middle-Income Countries (LMG-MICs) chaired by the Kingdom of Morocco.

The LMG-MICs include the countries of Armenia, Belarus, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, and Uruguay.

Other countries attending the event include Bangladesh, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Thailand.

In a press conference on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the meeting will help MICs find “concrete solutions” to address inequality, climate vulnerability, access to technology, financing, and innovation, among others.

The meeting, he said, will show that MICs, such as the Philippines, are “well positioned to take on a bigger role –both economically and politically– in the global stage.”

“United in our numbers, we enjoy considerable influence in shaping global discussions and redefining the 21st century development paradigm as we become more and more agents, rather than mere recipients, of new generation partnerships,” Manalo said.

The conference, to be held at the Makati Shangri-La, will discuss financing development for MICs, accelerating climate action and green transitions, strengthening South-South cooperation and development partnerships.

It also targets to address “outdated models and metrics” in development and financing assistance, and create accurate formulas that take into account the real situation of a country.

The conference will culminate with the adoption of the Manila Declaration on Middle-Income Countries with Proposed Elements for a Strategic Plan of Action for MICs 2025–2030.

Strong testament

UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral said the High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries (HLC-MICs) is a “strong testament” of Manila’s commitment to multilateralism and global cooperation for development.

“We are also here to learn, listen from the best practices and successes of the Philippines –we really hope the (Manila) Declaration will offer concrete recommendations for advancing sustainable development in MICs but also developing and low-income countries,” he said.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the Philippines is anticipated to graduate to upper-middle-income country status by 2026.

“As our economy expands and the middle class grows, we must rethink how we educate, invest, build, and collaborate to ensure that growth is both inclusive and sustainable. Otherwise, we risk falling into the so-called middle-income trap,” he said.

To avoid this, Balisacan said the Philippines and other middle-income countries should adopt “forward-looking strategies to accelerate structural transformation, diversify economies, and embrace technological upgrading.”

More than 200 delegates will attend the gathering, including foreign ministers, vice ministers, and other high-level representatives from members of the LMG-MICs, selected governments from the Asia-Pacific region, international organizations, international financial institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector.