Mindanao on Binay agenda in Malaysia

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Vice President Jejomar Binay will actively promote Mindanao as an investment destination when he addresses the Philippines-Malaysia Investment Partnership Forum Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur.

Binay, the forum’s keynote speaker, on Monrday said his speech would be “proof of the government’s determination to bring more investments, stimulate economic growth and generate more jobs in the southern Philippines.”

In a statement, Binay expressed confidence his trip “will be able to capture the interest of the Malaysian business community.”

The business forum is “expected to further boost the strong economic ties between the Philippines and Malaysia,” he said.

He said he “expects around 200 business leaders and investors from the Philippines and Malaysia to come together to exchange ideas on how to further enhance the already dynamic economic partnership between our two countries.”

9th largest trading partner

“Malaysia is the Philippines’ ninth largest trading partner with total trade amounting to almost $3.8 billion, meanwhile, our country is Malaysia’s 11th largest export market with trade valued at $2.4 billion,” he noted.

“During the forum, the Philippine delegation will highlight investment opportunities in tourism infrastructure, energy and electricity, Islamic banking and finance, processed food, information technology, business process outsourcing and other services, electronics, and automotive parts and components,” the Vice President said.

While in the Malaysian capital, Binay will meet with top government officials, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Minister of International Trade and Industry Dato Sri Mustapa Bin Mohamed and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Sri Anifah Aman, as well as former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Binay is also scheduled to meet with executives of the Malaysian firm Berjaya Corp.

Newly renovated embassy

He has also been asked to grace the opening of the newly renovated Philippine Embassy.

“Our ambassador (J. Eduardo Malaya) has asked me to grace the inauguration of the newly renovated embassy. And in keeping with my role as presidential adviser on OFW concerns, I will hold a dialogue with the Filipino community to check on their living and working conditions here and find out how the government could further extend assistance to them and to their families in the Philippines,” he said.

In an earlier statement, Binay described his official visit an “excellent opportunity to bring the good news about the Philippines to the leaders and ranking officials of Malaysia.”

On hand to welcome him Sunday night at Kuala Lumpur International Airport were Ambassador Malaya, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato Sri Ibrahim Saad and Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohillan Pillay.

From Malaysia, Binay will fly to the United States where he has several official activities lined up from May 30 to June 4. He will head home just as President Aquino leaves for the US himself for a meeting with President Barack Obama.