HH The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on an official visit to the Philippines, held a round of discussions with Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila on Monday.

Sheikh Tamim expressed his happiness at visiting The Philippines and praised the warm reception and hospitality he received in the country.

He hailed the role played by Qatar’s Filipino community in helping the nation’s development and progress.

“It’s my pleasure to take this opportunity to congratulate the Filipino community in Qatar and their effective contribution to our country’s progress and development,” Sheikh Tamim was quoted as saying.

“The Philippines is an important partner for us in many fields, especially in trade and economic cooperation. We aspire to improve these relations to increase communication between the private sector in both countries,” Sheikh Tamim added.

The Philippines’ Presidential Communications Office say Qatar serves as a second home to at least 242,609 Filipinos. In 2022, remittances to the Philippines from Qatar amounted to $895.33m.

Formal relations between the two countries began almost 43 years ago, on May 5, 1981.

During the session, the two sides discussed aspects of cooperation between the friendly countries and ways of promoting and developing them.

The session was attended by Chief of Amiri Diwan HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Thani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, and a number of other top officials.

The Philippine side was represented by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Executive Secretary of President of the Philippines Lucas Bersamin, Secretary of Trade Alfredo Pascual, Secretary of Tourism Maria Esperanza Christina Frasco, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Maria Antonio Yulo Loyzaga, Secretary of Energy Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla, Secretary of Presidential Communications Cheloy Garafil, and other high-ranking officials.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing and exchange of several agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

The MoUs signed included those for cooperation in the fields of sports, youth, combating human trafficking, technical cooperation and capacity building in the field of climate change, and tourism and business events.

They also witnessed the exchange of MoUs on mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates, one between Qatar Chamber and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and another between the Qatar Chamber and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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