President Aquino flew to Singapore on Tuesday with a mission to woo more investors for the Philippines after separate meetings with Singaporean leaders, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Tony Tan Keng Yam.
In his two-day “working visit” to the city-state, Mr. Aquino was invited as the keynote speaker at The Economist’s “The World in 2015” gala dinner on Tuesday, where he is expected to take the opportunity to invite attending business leaders to explore investment opportunities in the Philippines.
Before boarding his chartered flight from Manila on Tuesday morning, Aquino said in a predeparture statement that he also intends to address concerns of business executives invited to the news magazine’s annual event about the bright prospects of doing business in the country.
Aquino added that he also aims to “generate goodwill and support” for his reform agenda, as well as plans and programs for sustainable economic development, and, at the same time, push his vision for Southeast Asian region and the Mindanao peace process as the core element of his government’s program for inclusive growth.
According to Mr. Aquino, he is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with other business groups that have conveyed interest in expanding their investments in the Philippines.
On his last day in the city-state, Aquino will also take time to visit some of the estimated 180,000 Singapore-based Filipino workers at the Jolibee fast-food branch in downtown Orchard Road.
“Doon hindi lamang natin makakasama ang masisipag nating kababayan, maipapahayag at maibabandila din natin ang world-class na produkto at serbisyo ng Pilipino,” he said.
Malacañang, in a statement, reported that the government had set aside P11.6-million for President Aquino and his delegation’s brief visit to Singapore.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the amount would cover “expenses for transportation, accommodation, food, equipment and other requirements of the Chief Executive and his 54-member delegation.”
Among those accompanying the President at Singapore are Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Andrea Abad, Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda and Undersecretary Manuel L. Quezon III.
“This is a significant opportunity for our President to share his administration’s plans and reform programs toward sustainable economic and inclusive growth, as well as the peace process for Mindanao,” Ochoa said.