President Aquino, looking to lure more investors to the country, flew on a working visit to Chicago on Wednesday on the first of a leg of an “economic-diplomatic mission” highlighted by a three-day state visit to Canada.
The President confirmed before his departure that he would also be aiming for more robust trade between the Philippines, the US and Canada.
“Kukunin natin ang pagkakataong ito para lalong pagtibayin ang pagsisikap tungo sa nagkakaisang adhikain, gayundin ang pagkalap pa ng interes mula sa mga negosyante ng United States at Canada para lalong mapalago ang pamumuhunan sa ating bansa,” Mr. Aquino said in a predaparture speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The President added that the US is the third major trading partner of the Philippines and he aims to make trade between the two countries more robust.
“Ang US nga po ang pangatlong major trading partner ng Pilipinas at layon nating paigtingin pa ang pangangalakal na ito,” Mr. Aquino said, adding: “Ngayong lumalago ang mga ekonomiya ng ating dalawang bansa, ihahayag natin ang kahandaang sulitin ang bawat pagkakataon kasama nila at higit pang ipapakita na talagtang mas o-open for business na ang Pilipinas,” he said.
The President and his delegation, which included finance, trade, foreign affairs and other Cabinet officials, left Manila at 7:45 a.m. and is expected to arrive in San Francisco for a “technical stop” at 9 p.m. Manila time. (San Francisco is 15 hours behind Manila and Chicago is 13 hours behind Manila).
After a one-hour stop, the President will depart San Francisco for Chicago, where the delegation is expected to arrive at 2:25 a.m. Manila time on May 7.
First on President Aquino’s working visit schedule in Chicago is a courtesy call on its mayor, Rahm Emanuel.
After that, Mr. Aquino is attending a “business meeting” coorganized by the US Chamber of Commerce, the US Asean Business Council and the National Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Conference.
A Palace statement said a “roundtable” will serve as a venue to “discuss topics, such as the Philippines’s economic developments, and the programs and policies which contributed to the country’s economic growth.”
From there, Mr. Aquino is scheduled to meet with the Filipino community in Metropolitan Chicago, where an estimated 90,000 of 139,090 Filipinos living in the state of Illinois are residing, before flying to Canada for a three-day state visit.