Aquino off to Hawaii for Apec meeting

President Benigno Aquino III is scheduled to join 21 heads of state from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13 in Honolulu, Hawaii, for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit.

Hosted by the United States, Apec 2011 is expected to focus on jobs and growth, regulatory reform and competitiveness, and energy efficiency and security.

Joining Aquino are Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

Prior to the Apec Economic Leaders Meeting on Nov. 12 to Nov. 13, President Aquino will be participating in the Apec CEO Summit.

“This is a very exciting part of Apec because now you have the private sector people led by the Apec Business Advisory Council,” Del Rosario said.

Some 300 chief executive officers are expected to attend.

Delegation

Del Rosario said business leaders Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Tony Tan Caktiong and Doris Magsaysay Ho will lead the country’s CEO delegation.

A highlight of the visit will be a dinner hosted by Microsoft research and strategy executive Craig Mundie for President Aquino, Del Rosario added.

Apparently, Apec had arranged for CEOs to host different heads of state. This portion gives business leaders the opportunity to meet with Apec political leaders and raise issues of pressing concern to the business community. “We were chosen by Microsoft,” Del Rosario said.

“So far, I think, this sends a signal to us that, you know, Microsoft is interested in the Philippines; they want to be able to talk to the President about certain matters that are of importance to us as an economy and to them as a corporation,” he added.

In the leaders’ summit, “they will be talking about three important issues—growth and jobs, regulatory reform and competitiveness, energy efficiency and energy security,” Del Rosario said.

“Why growth and jobs? We have to consider the fact that Apec host this year is the United States and employment is high and they know that they have lost manufacturing to China. Now, how do you bring back jobs?” Del Rosario said.

President Aquino is also scheduled to meet with members of the Filipino community in Hawaii during his visit.