ZURICH, Switzerland — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. arrived here on Sunday, Jan. 15, for his inaugural participation in the 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, where he will "expand and expound" the significant strides achieved by his administration.
Philippine Airlines Flight PR001 carrying the President and his official delegation, touched down at the Zurich-Kloten International Airport at 4:27 p.m., Zurich time (11:27 p.m., Philippine time).
President Marcos will join world leaders and chief executive officers (CEOs) at the 2023 annual meeting of the WEF. This year's forum, which carries the theme "Cooperation in a Fragmented World," is the first in-person meeting since 2020.
On Monday evening (Zurich time), Marcos is expected to join the WEF opening reception. The formal opening speech will be delivered by Alain Berset the following morning.
The President will join chief executive officers for participating in the WEF for breakfast on Wednesday morning before he makes his formal presentation. In his departure statement, Marcos said he would highlight the steps the Philippines is taking to mend the fissures of such fragmentation in the Philippines, while working in partnership with friends, allies, and partners in addressing global concerns.
Marcos said he would take this opportunity to exchange views on such pressing issues with other government leaders, policymakers, business executives and entrepreneurs, civic society advocates, and academic experts.
The Chief Executive will also talk about the proposed Maharlika Wealth Fund.
Marcos will meet the members of the Filipino community in Zurich on Friday, Jan. 20, before leaving for Manila.
The President is expected to have several meetings with different organizations during his six-day stay in Switzerland.
According to Marcos, he is looking forward to meeting with various government and business leaders at the WEF to build and and strengthen partnerships.
President Marcos was invited by Prof. Klaus Schwab, the founder and Chair Emeritus of the WEF, on the sidelines of both the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Phnom Penh and Bangkok, respectively, in November last year.
The President's official delegation is composed of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo, Jr., Presidential Adviser on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Adelio Cruz, Sen. Mark Villar, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Marcos III, Tingog partylist Rep. Yedda Romualdez, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Carlos Sorreta, Finance Undersecretary Zeno Abenoja, and Migrant Workers Undersecretary Patricia Caunan.