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PASIAWorld 2026 runs October 8-9 at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City
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The Procurement and Supply Institute of Asia will host the ASEAN Supply Chain Roundtable and has volunteered to bring IFPSM’s global conference, drawing delegates from about 48 nations, to the Philippines in 2029
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Government employees get a 50% delegate discount, while a new Ethics and Supply Chain Leadership Program with a “gold star” accreditation tier launches in 2027
The Procurement and Supply Institute of Asia (PASIA) will highlight major strides in the Philippine supply chain industry during its annual flagship conference in October as well as push for stronger collaboration within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the regional bloc’s Supply Chain Knowledge Partner for the year.
PASIA chairman and CEO Charlie Villaseñor made the announcement on September 17, ahead of the staging of PASIAWorld 2026 set for October 8-9 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, the first time the 24-year-old event moves from its longtime venue at the Manila Marriott Hotel.
PASIA will host the ASEAN Supply Chain Roundtable during the conference, in line with PASIA’s designation as partner for the year as the Philippines holds ASEAN chairmanship for 2026.
“We are in a situation where there’s significant concerns about our economy, about our trade, about jobs, about almost everything,” Villaseñor said, adding that the conference was designed to spotlight positive developments in the sector.
Villaseñor – who sits on the board of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM), a global federation of roughly 48 national supply chain organizations – also announced that PASIA has volunteered to host IFPSM’s global event in the Philippines in 2029, which would draw delegates from the federation’s full membership.
This year’s PASIAWorld conference carries backing from the United States-based Association for Supply Chain Management and Europe-based IFPSM, alongside corporate sponsors including planning software firm Anaplan, procurement platform Zycus and AI-driven transportation management provider FarEye.
Villaseñor noted the sponsor roster has shifted markedly toward companies built around artificial intelligence.
PASIA is also formally launching “PASIA Shared Services,” expanding its business/knowledge process outsourcing arm through sister company Transprocure, which has held Philippine Economic Zone Authority accreditation since 2002.
READ: PASIA Shared Services, Quotable AI partner to help SMEs with quotation management
On AI’s effect on jobs, a recurring concern among delegates, Villaseñor said he acknowledged PASIA itself has used the technology to become roughly five times more productive per employee, which led to some internal rationalization.
But he said the group is now holding off on further AI-driven cuts in favor of helping client companies strengthen their own supply chains.
“If PASIA helps companies to have stronger supply chains, what will happen? These companies are going to be profitable. And if these companies are profitable… they can pay good taxes, and the company can be stronger,” he said.
Ethics and Supply Chain Leadership Program
The conference will also serve as the launch platform for a new PASIA Ethics and Supply Chain Leadership Program, which Villaseñor said will roll out in 2027 with third-party assessments and scorecards rating companies’ ethical practices on both the buying and supply sides, up to a “gold star” accreditation tier.
He said fuller details of the program would be issued in a separate announcement.
To broaden public-sector participation, PASIA’s board approved a 50% delegate discount for government employees, citing Villaseñor’s previous engagement with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Health, and the Department of Budget and Management, as he saw opportunities for them to learn about better supply chain and procurement practices.
For the first time, PASIAWorld will run alongside two other trade exhibitions at SMX under the organizer Global-Link MP Events International, including the Asia International E-Commerce Expo and PackPrintPlas Philippines, both also opening on October 8, as well as PASIA’s own first-time exhibit component, SupplyCon, which pairs suppliers with corporate buyers.
Conference tracks this year include:
- ASEAN outlook and regional collaboration
- Cross border trade and regional integration
- Artificial intelligence and automation
- Digital procurement and intelligent sourcing
- AI-enabled supply chain planning
- Emerging supply chain technologies
- Strategic procurement and supplier collaboration
- Ethical sourcing, governance, and compliance
- Multimodal logistics and regional connectivity
- Supply chain resilience and sustainability
- Leadership and talent development
- Future-ready supply chain skills
READ: FarEye, PASIA partner to help enhance PH logistics efficiency
The PASIA president said the program has been restructured with more breakout and interactive sessions after delegates asked for a stronger educational focus. At least five additional CEO-level speakers, including participants from Europe and the Middle East, are still being confirmed.—Michael Barcas
