Aquino to keynote The Economist event

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III will deliver the keynote speech at The Economist's The World in 2015 Gala Dinner in Singapore on Tuesday.

Senior executives from business, government and academe will be present in the prestigious event where Aquino would have a chance to talk about the country's future trajectory.

In a statement Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Aquino will have a chance to generate goodwill and support for sustaining his reform agenda, plans and programs for sustainable growth in the event.

He will also deliver his vision for the Southeast Asian region and the Mindanao peace process as a core element of the government's program for inclusive growth.

Hosted by The Economist Executive Editor Daniel Franklin, The World in 2015 Gala Dinner series is an award-winning annual event where luminaries share predictions for the upcoming year.

This would be the first time that a Philippine president will deliver the keynote. Aquino will also meet Singapore's government and business leaders in a separate event.

He is scheduled to return to the country on November 19.

Other key speakers for the event are Franklin, The Economist China Business and Finance Editor Vijay Vaitheeswaran and National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson.