Aquino flies off to Thailand on Thursday with PPP proposals

BANGKOK—President Benigno Aquino III and key members of his economic team are scheduled to arrive here today (Thursday) for a two-day state visit aimed at fostering stronger bilateral relations with Thailand and enticing major Thai business groups to participate in his administration’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.

The President is slated to hold a 55-minute bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Government House, the country’s seat of political power, upon his arrival.

Mr. Aquino and Abhisit will discuss closer cooperation in fighting drug trafficking, agricultural development and trade and economic issues.

After the meeting, the two leaders will hold a joint news conference.

Mr. Aquino and his 53-member delegation are expected to leave the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 10:30 a.m. today aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 730 and land at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 12:50 p.m.

Fourth state visit

The President’s Thailand trip is his fourth state visit to member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). A few weeks ago, he visited Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.

According to Malacañang, the President will be joined by Trade Secretary Gregorio Domingo, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Presidential Communication Development Secretary Ricky Carandang.

The President and his party will be welcomed by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwannakhir, Minister-in-Attendance Ongrart Klampaiboo, Thai ambassador to the Philippines Prasas Prasasvinitchai and other senior Thai government officials.

Philippine officials in Thailand led by Ambassador Linglingay Lacanlale will lead the arrival ceremony, which will be followed by the President’s hour-long meeting with representatives of three Thai companies.

Mr. Aquino will stay at the upscale Shangri-la Hotel where his meetings with the Thai businessmen are also scheduled.

Promoting PH

“Aside from strengthening our bilateral relations, we expect the President to promote the PPP in infrastructure development in the Philippines as what he has been doing in his previous meetings with other heads of states,” Lacanlale told the Radio-Television Malacañang.

“The President could also pursue investments in our energy, agriculture and food sectors,” she added.

Before meeting with Abhisit, Mr. Aquino will speak with the executives of Charoen Pokphand Group, Thailand’s biggest business conglomerate which is engaged in agribusiness, retailing, food processing, franchising and telecommunications.

He will then meet with officials of Siam Cement Group, the largest cement and building materials manufacturer in Thailand.

The President is also set to talk with officials of Thai state-owned oil company PTT Public Company Limited, which ranked 118th among the top 500 companies in the world as listed by Fortune Magazine in 2009.

In the evening, Mr. Aquino will attend a state dinner hosted by Abhisit at the Government House’s Inner Santi Maitri, Santi Maitri Building.