Noy to meet EU investors after climate summit

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will make the most of his time when he attends the Climate Change Summit in Paris and will invite European investors to take advantage of the booming Philippine economy.

Aquino announced this in a speech yesterday before boarding a Philippine Airlines flight for the French capital from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 together with several Cabinet members. His trip includes visits to Italy and the Vatican.

Aquino said he would meet with executives of leading European firms to ask them to invest in the Philippines as the economy grew by six percent in the third quarter of 2015.

The Philippines is now the third best performing economy in Asia, next to China and Vietnam.

This will be Aquino’s second trip to Paris after his official visit in September 2014.

French President Francois Hollande made a state visit to the Philippines in February this year, where both leaders launched Manila’s Call to Action on Climate Change.

Aquino also disclosed that he will maximize the time he will spend in Italy, where he will meet President Sergio Mattarela and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

In Italy, Aquino would also meet Filipinos and tell them about the good developments in the country.

Aquino would reciprocate Pope Francis’ visit to Manila last January when he visits the Vatican to witness the blessing of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

He will attend the unveiling and blessing of a mosaic sculpture of Our Lady of Peñafrancia as well as meet with Filipino priests and religious in Vatican City.

He will also have a private audience with Pope Francis.

This will be Aquino’s first time to visit Rome and Vatican City as head of state.

Aquino’s first stop in his three-state European tour is in Paris, where he will attend the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) scheduled today to Dec. 11 in Le Bourget.

The Philippines committed to a 70 percent emission reduction by 2030, as part of its intended nationally determined contribution to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with provisions coming from the developed countries on finance, capacity building, and technology transfer.

Aquino will deliver keynote remarks during the Climate Vulnerable Forum at the COP21.

Aquino’s official delegation includes Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Health Secretary Janette Garin and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Linglingay Lacanlale.

Lacanlale is representing Secretary Albert del Rosario, who is currently at The Hague in the Netherlands, attending to the arbitration case of the Philippines on the West Philippine Sea issue.

Meanwhile, 13 executives from top French firms are eyeing the Philippines as a possible business process outsourcing (BPO) hub due to the country’s strong economic performance, Philippine Ambassador to France Ma. Theresa Lazaro said yesterday.

Lazaro did not name the businessmen and the companies they are connected with but said they are planning to go to Manila early next year to review their options. With Alexis Romero