PHILIPPINE Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zared Al Nahyan met this week to discuss boosting their countries’ ties in renewable energy, tourism, transportation and investments, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
In a statement on Wednesday, the DFA said the two envoys met in Manila on June 3 and 4 to discuss existing ties in agriculture, investment protection and promotion.
“Noting the robust exchanges between the two countries, the UAE Foreign Minister expressed his confidence that much more can be done in the coming years,” it said.
Mr. Al Nahyan also paid a courtesy call to Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos during his two-day trip.
The Department of Trade and Industry in December said negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) deal with the UAE could begin as early as the first quarter of this year, with a timeline of up to two years.
The UAE was the Philippines’ 6th largest source of remittances, 17th major trading partner, the 21st largest export market, and the 16th largest source of imports. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
