- Clark welcomed over 1,200 ASEAN engineers during the 43rd CAFEO Conference, reinforcing its status as a top MICE destination in Asia.
- CDC President & CEO Agnes Devanadera highlighted engineers’ key role in national development and Clark’s post-Pinatubo transformation.
- The event, themed 'ASEAN Engineers: Beacons of Prosperity, Inclusivity, Equity, Resilience, and Sustainability', showcased Clark’s rise as Asia’s Leading Meetings and Conference Destination 2025.
It has welcomed over 1,200 engineers from the ASEAN region during the 43rd Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations to further cement its position as one of the premier meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions destinations in Asia. The event held from 28 to 30 October at the SMX Convention Center Clark opened with a welcome dinner that emphasized regional collaboration, professional development, and continuing education for the engineering sector.
In her remarks, CDC President and CEO Agnes Devanadera underscored the critical role engineers play in national development and regional integration. "There can be no development in any country without infrastructure, and that's how vital your profession is", she said.
Devanadera also cited the role of engineers in the transformation of Clark from a former United States airbase into a bustling economic zone after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. “We have risen from the ashes and are now leading economic growth in this part of our country. The poverty rate in Pampanga is now just one percent. Our recovery would not have been possible without the engineers”, she added.
With the theme 'ASEAN Engineers: Beacons of Prosperity, Inclusivity, Equity, Resilience, and Sustainability', CAFEO 43 showcased Clark's strategic position in the North Luzon Economic Corridor and its commitment to infrastructure-driven growth.
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Devanadera similarly referred to the recent recognition of Clark as Asia’s Leading Meetings and Conference Destination 2025 by the World Travel Awards as a testament to its world-class facilities and professional excellence. The CDC head also praised ASEAN engineers for pursuing continuing education and maintaining professional standards through the ASEAN Engineer title.
“You don’t just analyze problems, you propose solutions. That’s what the world needs now. We are able to sustain our growth because of you the engineers who have done a very good professional work. My salute to your profession”, she pressed.
CAFEO recognizes 13 engineering disciplines under the ASEAN Engineer Register, and these include civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, mining, industrial, environmental, geodetic, electronics, marine, metallurgical, agricultural, and information and communications technology (ICT). The participants included representatives of all ASEAN member states, such as Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
