GMA off to Mideast, Senegal this month

MANILA, Philippines – Arrangements are being made for possible visits of President Arroyo to Doha, Qatar and Dakar, Senegal in Western Africa in the middle of the month in the effort to improve ties with and secure investments from the two countries, officials said yesterday.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila said the trip to Qatar will be a state visit. He said Mrs. Arroyo and the Qatar Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, were supposed to meet at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Zurich, Switzerland but it did not push through due to scheduling problems.

Favila said the Emir instead extended an invitation for Mrs. Arroyo to make a visit this month.

Favila could not give details of the trip except that “our respective officials are making arrangements.”

“Nothing is finalized yet,” he said.

Malacañang officials, however, said Mrs. Arroyo is likely to secure investments from Qatar, including tourism and other infrastructure projects, as well as try to wrap up energy deals. The officials, however, could not state the purpose of her visit to Dakar. – Paolo Romero