Publication: The Business Times, p 13 Date: 9 March 2011 Headline: Philippine President on three-day visit

Philippine President on three-day visit THE President of the Philippines, Benigno S Aquino 111, will make a state visit to Singapore from today to March 11. He will be accompanied by parliamentary offi- cials - including Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Al- bert F Del Rosario and Secretary of Finance Cesar V Puri- sima - and a business delegation.

President Aquino will be hosted to a state banquet by President S R Nathan. He will also be meeting Prime Min- ister Lee Hsien Loong, who will host him to lunch.

During his visit, President Aquino will deliver a key- note address at a Singapore Business Federation-Interna- tional Enterprise Singapore Eminent Leaders Lecture ti- tled "Philippines - Partnership for Progress" and visit the Singapore Management University.

He will also visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens - for an orchid n h i n g ceremony, the Changi Water Reclama- tion Plant, as well as tour Changi Airport and meet the Fili- pino community here.

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Publication: Channel NewsAsia Date: 10 March 2011 Headline: Philippine President Aquino in S’pore for state visit

Philippine President Aquino in S'pore for state visit By Imelda Saad/Satish Cheney | Posted: 10 March 2011 1439

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SINGAPORE: Philippine President Benigno Aquino, who is on a three-day state visit to Singapore, met President S R Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday morning. President Aquino was then hosted to lunch by Mr Lee. In the evening, Mr Aquino was hosted to a state banquet by President Nathan at the Istana. Distinguished members of the Filipino community in Singapore were also present at the banquet. Mr Nathan highlighted the contributions by the Filipino community here, saying: "There is also a sizeable Filipino community residing here, making significant contributions to Singapore's development. The profile of the community has gradually changed over recent years. There are now many Filipino professionals working in various sectors, some of whom occupy top positions in business and industry. The Filipino community has integrated very well." On his part, Mr Aquino said: "Every Singaporean has been empowered to fulfil his or her personal potential and I believe that the same potential holds true for my own people. You make me realise what we can someday achieve. I intend to lead my countrymen on a path of progress and I am grateful for your example." President Aquino is in Singapore with several other Filipino leaders, such as Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Presidential Adviser on International Relations Albert F. Del Rosario, Secretary of Finance Cesar V. Purisima and Secretary of Trade and Industry Gregory L. Domingo, and a business delegation. During his visit, Mr Aquino will also deliver a keynote address at a Singapore Business Federation-International Enterprise Singapore Eminent Leaders Lecture titled "Philippines - Partnership for Progress", as well as visit the Singapore Management University. In addition, President Aquino will visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens for an Orchid Naming Ceremony. He will also tour the Changi Water Reclamation Plant and the Changi Airport and meet the Filipino community here. Economic relations between Singapore and the Philippines are strong. Bilateral trade reached S$22.3 billion last year, a 51 per cent increase from 2009, making the Philippines Singapore's fourth largest trading partner.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino (L) is greeted by his Singaporean counterpart S R Nathan (R) during a meeting at the Istana.

Publication: Channel NewsAsia Date: 10 March 2011 Headline: Philippine President Aquino in S’pore for state visit

The Philippines, in turn, was Singapore's 12th largest trading partner. Electronic products account for a large proportion of bilateral trade as the manufacturing process straddles both countries. Singapore investments in the Philippines are also on the rise. In 2009, the country's registered cumulative investments in the Philippines reached S$4.2 billion, a 26 per cent overall increase from S$3.3 billion in 2005. Investments are in diverse sectors including business process out-sourcing, airport development, transport and logistics, real estate and hospitality, information technology, telecommunications, retail and F&B. Singapore companies with a presence in the Philippines include Banyan Tree, Keppel Offshore and Marine, SIA Engineering Company and Ascendas. Tourism links have been boosted by increased air links. As of January 2011, five airlines operate the Manila-Singapore route. They are Airphil Express, Cebu Pacific, Jetstar Asia, Philippines Airlines, SIA and Tiger Airways. -CNA/ac/ir

Publication: Lianhe Zaobao, p 11 Date: 9 March 2011 Headline: Philippine President to visit Singapore

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'ublication: The Straits Times, p A19 late: 9 March 2011 deadline: Aquino eyes investments from Singapore

Aquino eyes investments from Singapore Philippine leader will meet President Nathan, PM Lee during 3-day visit

BY ALASTAIR MCINDOE PHILIPPINES CORRESPONDENT

mmrwr- President Benigno Aquino arrives in Singapore today for a state visit that offi- cials here hope will drum up investments, revive the Philippines- Singapore Action Plan and push the agen- da on Asean connectivity.

The visit is an Asean tradition for heads of state to visit each country in the 10-na- tion bloc during their leadership - and is Mr Aquino's first.

"By observing this tradition, the Philip-

pines shows its commitment to Asean as its most important regional partner in de- velopment and in peace and security ef- forts," Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosa- rio told reporters ahead of the visit.

Mr Aquino, 51, is set to meet ~hgapore President S R Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as well as members of the Filipino community - estimated at 177,600 by the Philippine government - and Singapore business leaders during his three-dayvisit.

Mr Aquino, who will have an orchid named after him, will also give a talk at the Singapore Business Federation- International Enterprise Singapore Emi- nent Leaders Lecture, and visit Singapore Management University, Changi Airport and a water reclamation plant.

President Nathan will host his counter- part to a state dinner while PM Lee will

host him for lunch, said Singapore's Minis- try of Foreign Affairs.

Filipinos generally regard such trips as good value if they reel in investments, and Mr Aquino brings with him a heavyweight economic team that includes Cabinet min- isters with portfolios in finance, trade and energy.

Officials say Mr Aquino particularly wants to attract foreigninvestment in the administration's flagship economic pro- gramme for public-private funding part- nerships to develop the country's trans- port and energy infrastructure.

Shortly before leaving for Indonesia on the first leg of his two-nation trip on Mon- day night, Mr Aquino announced five road and rail projects worth over USSI billion (SS1.3 billion) open to foreign and local in- vestors, which will be bid out over this year.

"These projects will undoubtedly stimu- late our economy," said Mr Aquino.

Ties between the Philippines and Singa- pore, both founding members of Asean, are growing noticeably stronger in some key economic areas.

Within Asean, Singaporeans were the top visitors to the Philippines with 121,083 arrivals last year, an expansion of 23 per cent over 2009.

The data does not show if the growth was spurred by business or leisure travel. But Singapore's rebound from the global recession enabled Philippine exports - led by semi-conductors - to the Republic to

nearly treble to USS7.3 billion last year, from USB2.5 billion in 2009.

And increasing numbers of skilled and professional Filipinos now work in Singapore, accounting for just over half the Filipinos employed there.

In a briefing note on Philippine- Singapore relations, the Philippine De- partment of Foreign Affairs said they "enjoy satisfactory working conditions".

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