WHAT: BRIEFING OF UK FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE MINISTER OF STATE JEREMY BROWNE*
WHEN: 05 DECEMBER 2011, MONDAY, 4:30 P.M. TO 5:15 P.M.
WHERE: ROOM 556, FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE, 5TH FLOOR, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 2330 ROXAS BOULEVARD, PASAY CITY
*Minister Browne will give a briefing on his visit to Manila. He is in the country for the second time to affirm the strong relationship between the Philippines and the UK and express Britain's continuing support for Philippine development and reform in line with shared values. His visit underscores the importance the UK attaches to the Philippines as a key emerging power in East Asia.
Highlights of his visit include a courtesy call to President Benigno S. Aquino III, a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs and an investments briefing on the Philippine PPP programme with key government officials and business leaders.
He will also welcome a UK infrastructure investment mission which aims to promote British expertise and opportunities in infrastructure and Public Private Partnerships (PPP). This will reinforce the UK's commitment in helping the Philippines maximise their potential in the business sector.
Minister Browne will attend the launching of a fundraising event to support Filipino athletes competing in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He will talk, among other things, about the transformation of London for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a model of sustainable urban infrastructure planning and development that will benefit generations to come.
Minister Browne visited the Philippines in 2010 to highlight the growing importance that the UK places on emerging powers such as the Philippines. He said that the UK sees the Asian region as playing an increasingly significant role in world affairs.