From boardrooms to the F1 grid: Marcos heads to Singapore

National

BUSINESS talks, ASEAN coordination and Formula One are on President Marcos’ agenda as he begins a five-day working visit to Singapore on Wednesday.

Marcos will be in Singapore from Oct. 7 to 11 at the invitation of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The trip will be his fifth visit to the city-state and his 47th overseas travel since becoming president in 2022.

The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, promoting the Philippines to investors and coordinating with Singapore on regional priorities ahead of its assumption of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship.

“The President’s working visit to Singapore underscores the strong relations between the Philippines and Singapore,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Analyn Ratonel said in a statement issued yesterday, as quoted by Philstar.

Ratonel said the two countries cooperate in trade, investment, defense and people-to-people ties, with their engagement expanding into digital technology, the green economy, smart infrastructure, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and health care.

She said the visit will also provide an opportunity for Manila to coordinate with Singapore as it prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship and work toward keeping the regional bloc cohesive and responsive to developments.

The Philippines and Singapore also cooperate on economic integration, maritime concerns and responses to transnational threats, while Singapore has consistently supported ASEAN centrality, international law and peaceful dialogue, Ratonel said.

Marcos is scheduled to attend the 24th Forbes Global CEO Conference, where he will engage with global business and thought leaders. He will participate in an “In Conversation” session and hold a one-on-one dialogue with Forbes Media chairman and editor-in-chief Steve Forbes.

Ratonel said the event will allow Marcos to present the Philippines’ investment and economic priorities in key growth sectors.

The President will also visit the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute to learn about the country’s expertise in nuclear technology and safety.

His itinerary includes a dinner hosted by Wong on the sidelines of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2026. Ratonel said Wong personally invited Marcos to the race, which brings together government leaders, business executives and investors, providing opportunities for informal engagements alongside his formal investment meetings.

Marcos will be accompanied by Finance Secretary Frederick Go, Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque and Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez.

Singapore is among the Philippines’ major trading and investment partners. Two-way trade reached $9.27 billion last year, while around 220,000 Filipinos live in the city-state.(MyTVCebu)