Lancaster House, London
6 June 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Philippine delegation were honored with a luncheon hosted by Her Majesty’s Government and presided by Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister Jeremy Browne, MP and the Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman David Wootton.

In his message delivered after Minister Browne’s welcome remarks, President Aquino said that a deep and strong bond exists between the people of the two countries, and that this has been reinforced through decades of interaction among its officials and peoples.

He added that there is great optimism about the Philippines and that the government intends to build on this optimism by providing an environment where investors can make a good profit under clear and consistent rules and regulations.

“Being one of our top European investors and the biggest source of tourists from Europe, we want the United Kingdom to take full advantage of what the Philippines offers: stable, value-for-money investment opportunities, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs),” President Aquino said.

The President takes pride in the fact that the quarter of a million Filipinos who live in the United Kingdom positively contribute to British society and its nation’s economy.  He also appreciates the warm welcome extended to them by the British people.

FCO Minister Jeremy Browne, MP and the Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman David Wootton visited the Philippines last December 2011 and May 2012, to reiterate Britain’s keen interest in the country’s economic and political developments.

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