The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Friday, July 21, that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will push for the advancement of agriculture, tourism, and digital economic cooperation between Manila and Kuala Lumpur during his state visit in Malaysia, which is scheduled for July 25 to 27.
In a Palace briefing, DFA spokesperson Ma Teresita Daza said that Marcos will pursue bilateral cooperation to prioritize areas that are at least supportive of the Philippines’ economic agenda.
Daza further explained that the said bilateral meeting includes agriculture, food security, tourism, and the digital economy, adding that there will be new areas that will be explored, including the halal industry and Islamic banking.
During his Malaysia trip, the President is expected to have a royal audience with Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and will have a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The said meeting is to determine new areas of synergy and bolster people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Also, the Foreign Secretary mentioned that Marcos will be meeting with Malaysian business leaders to attract more investments, hoping that it will generate investment pledges from Malaysian companies.
Furthermore, she said that the Philippines will actively promote the country as an attractive trade, investment, and tourist destination.
Talking about the newly enacted Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), which is the country’s first-ever sovereign wealth fund, Daza said that it "may have been raised and promoted" during the President’s visit to Malaysia.
She also confirmed that Marcos will be accompanied by his wife, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, key Cabinet officials, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and the country’s economic team, and a business delegation.
The chief executive will also meet with the Filipino community living and working in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, Malaysia sees the trip as an avenue to solidify the dynamic and already good relations between the two states.
