Norwegian foreign minister to visit Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende is arriving in the country on Thursday for a working visit, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced.

The DFA yesterday said Brende would meet Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario upon arrival in Manila to discuss issues of interest to the Philippines and Norway.

In the first Philippines-Norway bilateral consultations, improvement in trade and investment between the Philippines and Norway will be discussed, aside from the reconstruction program and the peace processes.

The Philippines’ good economic performance has been noted as a positive factor for trade and investment opportunities.

Brende was appointed foreign minister of Norway in October 2013. He served as Norway’s minister of environment from 2001 to 2004 and minister of trade and industry from 2004 to 2005.

He had also been a member of the Norwegian Parliament for the Conservative Party for more than 10 years and served as chairman of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development from 2003 to 2004.

In 2009, Brende became secretary-general of the Norwegian Red Cross until 2011 when he was appointed managing director of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He was responsible for the forum’s policy initiatives and engagement in non-business constituents.

Norway was the Philippines’ 61st export market in 2012 and Norwegian investments mostly in the maritime and power sectors.

Meanwhile, President Aquino will host the traditional vin d’ honneur on Friday which, Malacañang said yesterday, would be his “first opportunity” to communicate his priorities, expectations and hopes for the year.

The Office of the Presidential Spokesperson also announced the President would receive this week non-resident ambassadors from Botswana, Ethiopia, Lithuania, Portugal, Samoa, Sudan, Zambia and Suriname. – With Aurea Calica