Singapore business delegation due in Feb.

A SINGAPORE business delegation is hoping to meet with President Rodrigo R. Duterte in February to discuss plans for expanding tourism and introduce more investment in the Philippine retail, transportation, and infrastructure sectors.

“We’re trying to get a mixed meeting of the PSBC (Philippines-Singapore Business Council) here. They want to bring the members to Davao to meet with the President,” said Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Kok Li Peng in a statement, following a recent meeting with Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III.

Mr. Dominguez said the meeting could take place in Davao City in February.

Ms. Kok said that Singapore airlines are considering more flights to the Philippines, ahead of the expected increase in demand for air travel between the two countries.

Singapore was seventh among the Philippines’ sources of overseas visitors, with 133,431 in the nine months to September — representing 3% of all arrivals.

In 2013, 526,704 Filipinos visited Singapore, making it the second most popular destination for Filipinos.

Mr. Dominguez said that opening the airline industry to more competition or partnerships will support the Philippine economy and bolster the tourism sector.

The government is currently pursuing stronger economic integration in Asia, particularly with regional powerhouse China.

The President has also taken his diplomatic offensive to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, visiting Cambodia and Singapore.

Mr. Duterte is also seeking a bilateral labor agreement with Singapore.

Singapore is the Philippines’ fifth-largest export destination, with shipments valued at $317.40 million, accounting for a 6.7% share of total exports as of the 10 months to October.

In terms of imports, Singapore also ranked fifth, representing 7.4% of the total, with receipts amounting to $ 508.76 million.

The Philippines and Singapore are both part of the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which aims to liberalize trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. —