The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates are deepening cooperation on trade and artificial intelligence development following high-level talks between officials from both countries in Abu Dhabi.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary and Board of Investments (BOI) Managing Head Dr. Ceferino Rodolfo met with UAE Minister for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi to discuss strategic initiatives under the recently signed Philippines-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the US-led Pax Silica initiative.
The discussions came after the Philippines formally joined the Pax Silica alliance and announced a partnership with the United States for the development of a 4,000-acre AI-native industrial acceleration hub in Luzon.
Both officials highlighted the importance of access to water, power, and AI technologies to support the large-scale infrastructure requirements of the planned Luzon hub.
Rodolfo said the UAE’s advanced infrastructure and energy capabilities could help strengthen AI development efforts in the Philippines.
“There is strong complementarity between Philippine mineral resources, skilled workforce, strong semiconductor and chip manufacturing sector and UAE’s capital-intensive AI infrastructure,” Rodolfo said.
“As we build the Luzon AI-native hub, our partnership under CEPA and the Pax Silica framework ensures that both nations remain at the forefront of the global digital economy,” he added.
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver said the Philippines’ inclusion in the Pax Silica alliance further strengthens bilateral agreements between Manila and Abu Dhabi, including the CEPA and the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA).
“This signifies that the Philippines and the UAE are no longer just traditional trading partners; they are now strategic tech-allies,” Ver said.
DTI Secretary Cristina Roque said recent engagements with UAE officials reflect the Marcos administration’s commitment to expanding economic ties with the Gulf nation.
Special Envoy for Trade and Investments Ma. Anna Kathryna Yu-Pimentel said the newly signed CEPA opened opportunities for stronger cooperation in AI and advanced technologies.
Yu-Pimentel added that Filipino engineers, IT professionals, and innovators stand to benefit from the growing partnership with the UAE, which she described as a global leader in artificial intelligence.
Rodolfo was in the region to participate in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Critical Minerals Forum and meet with key stakeholders in the UAE’s energy and high-tech sectors.
