Manila, Phlippines - The Asian Institute of Management – Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness (AIM-RSN PCC) continues to strengthen its commitment to regional development through a strategic partnership with the Philippine Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Study Center Network (PASCN). Established in 1996, PASCN has been a platform for advancing research and knowledge exchange across the Asia-Pacific region. Its mission encompasses a comprehensive range of objectives: promoting collaborative research, maintaining critical data and information, fostering linkages with other APEC Study Centers, encouraging higher education studies, facilitating information exchange, providing technical assistance, and offering capacity-building programs.
Expanding its scope beyond its original focus, PASCN has progressively embraced emerging challenges in the region. Today, the network explores critical topics including environment, gender, digitalization, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises – reflecting the evolving complexity of economic and social landscapes. 
Further demonstrating PASCN’s growth, Dr. Ancieto Orbeta Jr., President of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies and the Lead Convenor of PASCN, signed the Memorandum of Understanding, together with Dr. Jikyeong Kang, President and Dean of the Asian Institute of Management, the Mindanao State University System, and the University of Asia and the Pacific, formalizing the collaboration between key institutional minds. Also in attendance was Dr. Jamil Paolo Francisco, Executive Director of AIM-RSN PCC and Dr. Francis Quimba, Project Director for PASCN.
Immediately following the MOU signing, Dr. Kang delivered a keynote address at the public symposium “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.” Her speech focused on sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region, with a specific emphasis on Korea’s 2025 APEC priorities – highlighting the Institute’s commitment to global academic discourse and innovative problem-solving.
This collaboration represents more than a formal agreement but the Asian Institute of Management – Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness’ commitment to drive meaningful change across the Asia-Pacific region.