GMA off to Switzerland, Kuwait this month

President Arroyo will fly to Switzerland later this month to attend the World Economic Forum and then proceed to Kuwait for a state visit, Malacañang said yesterday.

The President is expected to be in Davos from Jan. 25 to 27 before proceeding to Kuwait for her state visit from Jan. 28 to 29.

Malacañang officials said the details of the trip have yet to be finalized.

Over 2,000 leaders from all over the world will attend the World Economic Forum, an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Mrs. Arroyo last visited Kuwait in 2003 to personally check on the condition of overseas Filipino workers. Twenty Filipinos who were imprisoned in Kuwaiti jails for various offenses were pardoned as a result of the official visit.

The trip will be the first for Mrs. Arroyo this year. In 2006, she went to Italy, the Vatican and Spain in June; Finland, Belgium, England, Cuba and Hawaii in September; China in October and then Vietnam in November.

Mrs. Arroyo said she would visit Australia and New Zealand in May this year to strengthen ties with these countries.