Lord Mayor of London coming to boost trade

Lord Mayor of London David Wootton. AFP/CARL COURT

MANILA, Philippines—The Lord Mayor of London will lead a business mission to Manila this week in light of the United Kingdom’s policy of greater engagement in the Asia Pacific at large and Southeast Asia in particular.

The British Embassy said in a statement that David Wootton, who is in the middle of his year-long term, would be visiting to strengthen UK-Philippine partnerships.

In particular, the mission is focused on the promotion of British capabilities in the areas of public-private partnerships and financial and legal services, as well as the promotion of investment in the United Kingdom for companies looking to expand into Europe.

The Lord Mayor mainly serves as the ambassador for all UK-based financial and professional service firms and part of his mandate is to spend three months to promote the city outside the United Kingdom.

The alderman is also scheduled to visit other countries in Southeast Asia, along with Alan Yarrow, one of the two Sheriffs of London.

Representatives from British companies with business interests in the Philippines will accompany Wootton, the 684th person to hold the office since it was founded in the 1100s, to meetings with heads of government agencies and business leaders.

According to the embassy, the mission comes during a special year for the United Kingdom, with London hosting the 2012 Olympics and Britain celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The United Kingdom has beefed up its embassy staff in Manila with an additional six members amid its policy of stronger involvement in Asia.

According to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the six are part of 50 new posts that the United Kingdom plans to add across its network of missions in Asia within the next three years.