As he looks to strengthen the bilateral ties between both countries.
At 5:27 pm on Tuesday, July 14, the plane carrying President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and his small delegation departed for Singapore Changi Airport, where the leader is set to go on a two-day working visit.
According to a press briefing on Monday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro noted the visit is part of the preparations for Singapore’s chairship of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship next year, taking over from the country, which is this year’s chair.
“Bahagi ito sa pagsulong ng pamahalaan sa mas matatag na bilateral relations ng Pilipinas at Singapore na magsisilbing susunod na chair ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations sa susunod na taon,” said Castro.
During the visit, President Marcos is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, with whom he sis set to discuss matters in relation to trade and investment, environmental initiatives, healthcare, and regional and global development.
Furthermore, they will also commit themselves to ASEAN centrality and regional stability.
“Patuloy na isusulong ng dalawang lider ang pagpapalawak ng ugnayan ng Pilipinas at Singapore upang makalikha ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa ating mga mamamayan at mapalakas ang kooperasyon sa mga isyung panrehiyon at pandaigdigan,” the Palace Press Officer further stated.
Aside from that, Marcos will also participate in the Milken Institute Private Roundtable Discussion at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.
He is scheduled to meet with business leaders and investors in a bid to attract more investments, especially with the recent upgrading of thr country’s status to an “upper-middle income economy” by the World Bank.
Meanwhile, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos is also scheduled to deliver a message at the Global Economic Cooperation East Summit.
Her appearance comes upon the invitation of the Future Economic Cooperation Council, which is an India-based economic platform that brings together business and government leaders to advance global strategic economic cooperation.
This is the President’s latest visit to Singapore, where he had also made previous visits in 2022 and 2023. It also follows his latest trip to Canada, where he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
