Philippine Air Lines flight

President Benigno S. Aquino III left for Switzerland on board a chartered Philippine Air Lines flight Wednesday night to join world business leaders in the annual World Economic Forum in Davos.

The President was joined by a 63-member delegation led by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, National Economic and Development Authority head Arsenio Balisacan, and Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras.

They boarded their flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 a little past 11 p.m.

In his departure speech, the President said his attendance to the WEF will provide an opportunity to showcase before international business leaders the accomplishments of his administration in implementing widespread and meaningful reforms in governance.

"Isang pagkakataon ito upang mailatag natin sa harap ng mga pinuno sa Europa at iba pang bansa ang malawakan at makabuluhang reporma na lumalaganap sa ating bayan," the President said.

"Bibigyang-mukha natin ang magagandang balitang nasasagap nila mula sa mga banyagang telebisyon at pahayagan, at ipapaliwanag kung paano natin napapa-arangkada ang ekonomiya bunsod ng tuwid na pamamahala," he added.

He said he would particularly highlight the gains achieved by the Philippine economy that was able to post a 7.1 percent growth rate during the third quarter of 2012, the second highest in the region, the strengthening of the peso, the lowering of interest rates, and the surging Philippine Stock Exchange index.

He said because of the improved conditions in the country, he would exhaust every moment to invite potential investors to put up their businesses in the Philippines and take advantage of the industry and brilliance of the Filipino.

"Napapanahon nga po ang pagtungo natin sa Switzerland. Sa nararanasan pong paghina ng ekonomiya sa ilang bahagi ng Europa, sasamantalahin natin ang bawat sandali upang hikayatin silang mamuhunan sa Pilipinas, at tumaya sa angking sipag, husay at pagkamalikhain ng Pilipino. Gayundin, buong-sigasig nating ipapakilala ang ating bansa bilang napakaganda at kaaya-ayang lugar, na talaga namang babalik-balikan ng mga turista," the President said.