Binay off to Asia-Pacific Weeks 2013 in Berlin

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay leaves today for Germany to attend a biennial global gathering of business and social groups as well as promote bilateral relations between the Philippines and its biggest trading partner in Europe.

Binay, who is also presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, is expected to keynote the opening of the Asia-Pacific Weeks 2013 in Berlin.

Binay’s visit to Germany is until June 9.

The Asia-Pacific Weeks aims to help developing nations in the region achieve sustainable economic and social urban development amid population growth and environmental pressures.

Since 1997, the Asia-Pacific Weeks Berlin has been providing a forum for major issues in business and politics, science and research, as well as culture and society. Binay said that he is looking forward to sustaining the momentum “created by the earlier exchange of visits” between Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle.

Binay is set to meet with Westerwelle as well as with Federal Labor Minister Ursula von der Leyen.

Binay is also scheduled to meet with German key business leaders in events organized by the Economic Council Germany in Berlin and the German Asia Pacific Business Association in Hamburg.

He will also preside over a presentation on “Makati City as Smart City Portal to Business in the Philippines” during the forum on sustainable cities.

“We hope to be able to share our best practices in Makati, and at the same time learn from the experiences of the other participating cities,” Binay said.

“We are also optimistic that we will be able to get more foreign investors to set up shop in the Philippines,” he added.

The vice president will keynote a maritime conference, and is also set to meet with the Filipino communities in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt.

In Stuttgart, Binay will unveil a marker at the Hotel Marquardt, where Jose Rizal stayed in 1887.

Germany is home to more than 20,000 Filipinos.