Qatar and Philippines sign 4 MoUs including $206m worth in trade agreements

Four Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed by Qatar and the Philippines yesterday as HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Of the $925 million investment deals signed by the Philippines, $206 million worth were signed by Qatari businessmen with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

Manila’s trade and industry secretary Ramon Lopez confirmed that around 6000 jobs were to be created in the Philippines as a result of 13 agreements signed between private companies over the weekend.

The MoU’s signed were also related to health, sports, culture and education. The Health Secretary of the Philippines, Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial, stated that the MoU for health had been ten years in the making, and looks into joint activities with organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to Ubial, “Only last month, the Qatar government recognised the reciprocity principle among our healthcare providers so our doctors and all health professionals can practice in Qatar and Qataris can study and practice in the Philippines.”

The Philippines’ president had been visiting Qatar as the final destination of his three-nation visit to the Gulf. He praised the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, as well as the care and kindness afforded to the Filipino community in Qatar. 

HH the Emir expressed his satisfaction with the development of ties with the Philippines. Considering the significantly large population of around 240,000 Filipinos in Qatar, maintaining good relations is important indeed.

Photo Credit: ABS-CBN News