A high-level delegation from UAE visited the Republic of the Philippines on November 2023 to enhance bilateral relations, particularly economic relation. The delegation was headed by H.E Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, UAE Minister of State, and H.E Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, in addition to representatives from major companies and funds from UAE, to explore bilateral trade and investment opportunities, facilitate private-sectors collaboration in the sectors of mutual interest and to promote for UAE’s environment of investment.
The program for the visit included:
Meetings with top Government Officials:
The Delegation held several meetings with senior officials of the Philippine government, in the presence of H.E. Mohammed Obaid Alqataam, UAE Ambassador to the Philippines, as following:
• H.E. Alfredo E. Pasqual, Secretary of Trade and Industry.
• H.E. Enrique Manalo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
• H.E. Lucas Bersamin, Executive Secretary of the President of the Philippines.
• H.E. Benjamin Abalos Jr., Secretary of Interior and Local Government.
• H.E. Dr. Arsenio Balisacan, Head of the National Economic and Development Authority.
• H.E. Ivan Uy, Secretary of Information and Communications Technology.
• H.E. Frederick Go, Adviser to the President on Investment and Economic Affairs.
• H.E. Delfin Lorenzana, Chairman of Bases Conversion and Development Authority, former Secretary of Defense.
• H.E. Norman Wee, Special Presidential Envoy for Investment and Trade with UAE.
• Undersecretaries of the Departments of Energy, Transport and Finance.
Meetings discussed all existing and potential aspects of cooperation between UAE and the Philippines, with focus on economic cooperation, increasing investment, mutual trade, signing and ratifying of pending draft MoUs, particularly in economic and commercial sector, and explore ways to strengthen bilateral relations in other areas, including air transport, energy, climate change, communications technology, security, capacity building, employment, health, as well as political relations.
Field Visits and Meetings with officials of major private sector companies:
The delegation made several field visits to Philippine companies and met with their officials to discuss investment opportunities, partnerships between investors from both countries. visits included: JG Summit Holding. INC., Meralco, San Miguel Corporation, Aboitiz Group, and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which Is a government agency responsible for transforming former military bases and properties into premier centers of economic growth, or modern urban clusters.
UAE-Philippines Business Forum:
The visit included the convening of the first-of-its-kind business forum between UAE and Philippines companies, as well as relevant ministries and investment authorities in the Philippines to explore potential partnerships between investors from both sides.
Signing of 2 MoUs and establishing the joint UAE-Philippines Business Council.
The business forum concluded with the signing of two MoUs between the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the UAE and the Philippine Chambers of Commerce and Industry to expand the partnership and establish the joint UAE-Philippines Business Council.
