US business execs to arrive in PH for ‘greater’ trade, investment

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – High-ranking business officials from companies in the United States (US) will be in Manila this week to discuss “greater trade and investment with the Philippines,” the country’s embassy in the US said on Monday.

The US delegation led by the non-profit group US-Philippines Society will be in Manila from January 23 to 25.

The Society, which seeks to raise the profile of the Philippines in the US, is co-chaired by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. Chair Manuel Pangilinan and former US Ambassador to the Philippines John Negroponte.

“The delegation will participate in a dynamic program aimed at strengthening ties with political and business leaders, fostering discussion of strategic issues, and promoting business and investment opportunities,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia said in a statement .

Cuisia and Negroponte will also be joining the delegation.

Cuisia said the delegation will include executives of topnotch companies as Citigroup, Chevron, Coca Cola, General Electric, JP Morgan Chase, Procter & Gamble, Peregrine Development International, CV Starr & Co., the US Education Finance Group, McLarty & Associates, Federal Express and Spence & Co.

Cuisia said the group will also call on President Benigno Aquino III and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to participate in a policy forum with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo.

The policy forum, he said, would be featuring discussions on “strategic environment in the region” as well as “outlook for policy directions as the second term of President Barack Obama begins in Washington.”

He said Negroponte and two other former US ambassadors to Manila – Thomas Hubbard and Richard Murphy – would serve as speakers.

The  group’s itinerary also includes a meeting with US Ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas Jr.; a dialogue with business leaders organized by the Makati Business Club; and visits to the Global Gateway Logistics City at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions of the Department of Trade and Industry; and the Asian Institute of Management.

“The delegation will also attend the second regular meeting of the Board of Directors which is made up of civic and business leaders from the US and the Philippines,” Cuisia said