President Benigno S. Aquino III attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno S. Aquino III will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America, on November 11-13, 2011. It will be the President’s 12th foreign travel since he assumed the Presidency on June 30, 2010.

President Aquino, along with Heads of State of 21 APEC member-economies, will focus at the meeting on issues that will enhance trade and investments in the Asia Pacific Region. They will discuss alternative fuels, energy efficiency, smart grid, food security, innovation, healthcare, and policy and economic development.

The President will share with leaders the Philippines’ advocacy for human resources development, creation of jobs, addressing globalization, and sustaining trade and technical cooperation. He will participate in discussions on strengthening regional economic integration and expanding trade; promoting green growth; and, expanding regulatory cooperation and convergence.

President Aquino may extend his visit to meet with the huge Filipino communities in Honolulu and Oahu. He will meet with Filipino political, cultural, and academic leaders. He will extend to businessmen the invitation to invest in the Philippines.

He may also visit the Max’s of Manila restaurant in the city of Waipahu. A special banquet, “Alay sa Pangulo,” is being organized by the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii, an organization assisting the Philippine Consulate in community outreach activities throughout Hawaii.

The Philippines joined APEC on November 6, 1989. This year is a landmark year in Philippine participation in the APEC. Eight Philippine projects worth $950,000 have been approved by the APEC for funding, projects in environment change, food safety, investor relations, social protection, and micro-, small-, and medium-scale enterprises development.

We wish President Benigno S. Aquino III and his Delegation bon voyage on their trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting. We wish them all the best and success in all their endeavors. MABUHAY!