June 4, 2012, Philstar
President Aquino and British Prime Minister David Cameron are expected to discuss good governance as a way to achieve inclusive economic growth as the two countries work to improve trade and investment.
Aquino arrives here Tuesday for a three-day official visit that will coincide with a lot of festivities.
Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her diamond jubilee and preparations for this year’s Olympics are also on the upswing.
Philippine Ambassador to London Enrique Manalo Jr. said Aquino would take up economic cooperation between the two countries and his visit would be highlighted by business events.
“We expect some signings of very important business agreements,” he said. “Seven or eight companies will be involved and I know they will be covering areas such as renewable energy, gas, minerals, etcetera.”
Manalo said in relation to trade and investments, the two leaders would discuss the fight against corruption and good governance as a means of promoting economic growth.
“The United Kingdom and the Philippines have been very active on that,” he said.
The British government is one of the sponsors of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), along with the United States.
Aquino joined the OGP launching with US President Barack Obama in New York last year.
In Manila, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said European countries have no reason not to take a look at the Philippines and bring it back to the radar of their business and investment opportunities even if some projects involving Germany, Belgium and France signed during the past administration were cancelled.
“Those projects have been found to be seriously disadvantageous to the government and therefore had to be discontinued,” he said.
“The President’s good governance campaign will lose credibility if he pursues those projects knowing fully well they are tainted with irregularities and will simply waste limited resources of government.
“Between his strong mandate to cleanse the government and the need to maintain the goodwill of our bilateral partners, without doubt the President will choose the former. In the spirit of the Busan resolutions on Aid Effectiveness, our bilateral partners must appreciate our stance on these contracts.”
Abad said more foreign investors must be encouraged to come in now that Aquino’ s anti-corruption campaign was resonating and the Philippines posted the second fastest economic growth in Asia at 6.4 percent.
Manalo said the UK now looks at the Philippines as an emerging power in Asia.
The visit was historic as it would be done after more than a decade since the last official visit of a Philippine president, he added.
Manalo said Aquino’s visit would further cement and invigorate relations between the Philippines and UK.
Filipino investors would also come in and elevate bilateral relations to a much higher level, he added.
Manalo said the UK would want to take advantage of the country’s positive growth rate despite the economic downturn in Europe and the United States.
“They are trying to take advantage of that and we are trying to see how we can offer incentives and opportunities for them,” he said.
Aquino had mentioned that freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea would be discussed as part of international concern.
The Philippines is currently locked in a territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.
Manalo said the European debt crisis would also be tackled as well its impact to the global economy.
The UK was also number one source of tourists for the Philippines, he added.
The UK hosts a substantial number of Filipino professionals and other workers.
Aquino will leave today for an official visit to the UK from June 4 to 6, his first since he assumed office.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino will meet with the Filipino community in London.
Speaking over government-owned radio dzRB, Valte said Aquino will “touch base” with Filipinos in UK and meet with business groups interested in the government’s Public-Private Partnership flagship projects.
“We expect to get the sense of the investors there on what projects that they may want to support and, also, the private investments that we can probably, that the President can discuss with the business groups there,” she said.
Queen Elizabeth will host a lunch for Aquino but Prince Andrew would be representing her in light of her diamond jubilee celebration. The Queen will not be able to meet Aquino as his trip coincides with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Elizabeth Buensuceso, foreign affairs assistant secretary for European affairs, said this is Aquino’s first official visit to the UK and to Europe.
Aquino is also scheduled to meet with Cameron at 10 Downing Street, where they are expected to discuss Philippines-UK political and economic cooperation, the UK’s participation in the International Contact Group, regional and international issues, and anti-corruption and good governance practices both in the Philippine and UK governments.
“The assumption to power in May 2010 of the UK’s Coalition Government led by Prime Minister David Cameron reinvigorated the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and the United Kingdom, especially as the latter sought to re-engage emerging powers including the Philippines,” she said.
“This unprecedented focus on deepening Philippine-British bilateral ties, especially in economic and political/security matters, has even led the British government to describe the Philippines as an ‘emerging power in East Asia.’”
Several business meetings have also been lined up for Aquino with top British investors who are interested in doing business in the Philippines and participate in the Aquino administration’s PPP Program.
With a theme “Rising Philippines, Strong Britain: Forcing a New Era of Mutual Prosperity and Partnership,” Aquino’s trip aims to expand opportunities for closer economic cooperation; build up cooperation towards global peace, conflict-resolution and combating international crime; deepen people-to-people linkages from the grassroots to the highest levels of government; and celebrate shared values of democracy, free speech, good governance, transparency and counter-corruption.
Aquino will have a lean delegation with only eight Cabinet secretaries and several Filipino businessmen who will look for reciprocal investment, trade and tourism opportunities between the Philippines and UK.
He is also scheduled to fly to the United States after his UK trip upon the invitation of President Barack Obama. – With Delon Porcalla
