MANILA, Philippines – A day after his second State of the Nation Address, the jet-setting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. goes abroad again, this time to nearby Malaysia for a state visit.
Marcos, accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and key government officials, is visiting the Southeast Asian country from July 25 to 27, at the invitation by the king, Tengku Abdullah.
In Malaysia, Marcos is expected to hold meetings with the King, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as well as business personalities based in the country. He is also scheduled to meet with the Filipino community.
Bookmark this page for updates and insight on the visit, Marcos’ sixth in 2023.
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In Malaysia, Marcos makes pitch for Maharlika fund
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continued his push for the Maharlika Investment Fund, a controversial sovereign fund that he said is a “bold step towards our country’s meaningful economic transformation,” even in a country that’s still dealing with the aftermath of an ill-managed sovereign wealth fund.
“Their experience here is not going to be a detriment. In fact, it is a way for them to – they are the most careful of all,” Marcos told reporters on Thursday, July 27, when asked if he had pitched the Maharlika fund to business personalities in Malaysia during a three-day state visit.
Marcos met with Malaysian dairy company Farm Fresh Berhad on Thursday, July 27, over a “planned investment of US$20 million” in Batangas and Laguna.
According to a Palace release, the Malaysian company is looking for between 200 to 400 hectares of land to lease for large-scale cattle raising in the Philippines for milk production.
The same company is currency constructing a 6,000 square meter dairy processing facility in San Simon, Pampanga. Malacañang said it’s set to be operational this year, and is seen to employ some 50 local workers.
Malaysia’s King and Prime Minister receive the Marcoses in a state welcoming ceremony
Rappler.com
LOOK: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos at the State Welcoming Ceremony. Malaysia’s King and Prime Minister receive the Philippine President.
July 26 is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s first full day in Malaysia.
He is to be received by the King in a State Welcoming Ceremony. The two heads of state will then meet, and a State Banquet will be held in honor of Marcos and his delegation.
The Philippine President will also be meeting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for a bilateral meeting. Anwar earlier visited Malacañang as the first head of government to visit Marcos in the Palace.
Marcos, ahead of flying out for his 6th trip out of the country this year: "It is also my belief that through the investments we bring in from my various foreign visits, soon our kababayans will no longer be forced to work abroad…"
Pres Marcos says visit will focus on areas such as agriculture, food security, tourism, people to people exchanges as well as the Halal industry and Islamic banking.
