President Benigno Aquino III will leave shortly before midnight of Wednesday, Jan. 23, for Davos-Klosters in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (WEF), Malacañang said Saturday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino and his delegation will leave at 11 p.m., and return to the country on Sunday, Jan. 27.
"He was invited to give the keynote speech at the partnership against corruption event where he will share the Philippine experience in battling corruption," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.
She also said Aquino will meet and discuss issues with global business leaders, and make a pitch for the Philippines as "under new management and we are open for business."
Aquino will also meet with the Filipino community in Zurich on Jan. 26 before returning to Manila, she added.
Valte said Aquino's delegation will have Cabinet members, including:
- Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario
- Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima
- Budget Secretary Florencio Abad
- Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo
- National Economic and Development Authority head Arsenio Balisacan
- Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras
- Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ramon Carandang
An article on Radio TV Malacañang (RVTM) said some 1,000 member-companies and heads of state will participate at the annual WEF meeting.
It said the WEF aims to facilitate global, regional and industry transformation.
"The President is scheduled to address the WEF's activity on 'Anti-Corruption Reception' hosted by the forum's partnership against corruption. A series of meetings will also take place at the sidelines of the said forum which includes the ASEAN plenary session on 'Resilience in Diversity,'" it added.
RTVM said Aquino will also meet the Filipino community in Zurich where donations will be turned over to the Philippine government for the victims of Tropical Cyclone Pablo (Bopha). (http://bit.ly/VdhHsT)
GMA News