Aquino meets German trade delegation in Malacañang

GERMAN VISITORS Though they were not on the President’s schedule for the day, the “2012 Team-Philippines Germany” delegation is received by President Aquino in Malacañang on Wednesday. They are here for a weeklong exploratory investment mission on economic policies under the Aquino administration. The delegation was accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad (center). MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday night met with a German business delegation that included German Embassy officials in Malacañang.

Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said the German business delegation was supposed to pay a call only on Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario but the latter asked the President if he could meet with the group, too.

The President was “gracious” to meet with them, Carandang said.

“The Philippines and Germany have some issues left over from the previous administration but this is one of the things that help develop goodwill,” Carandang said of the unscheduled courtesy call by the German delegation.

The government has yet to settle a row with German firm Fraport over the construction of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, which saw them enmeshed in a legal fight for several years now over the demand of Fraport for just compensation for services it had rendered.

The government claimed that the Naia Terminal 3 project was overpriced and was tainted with corruption. Christine O. Avendaño