The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) opened its doors of collaboration for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and key decision makers in Abu Dhabi to explore opportunities that await for them in the Philippines.
PEZA’s Director General, Brigadier General Dr. Charito Plaza, MNSA PhD. spearheaded latest leg of the agency’s highly-successful ‘Global Biz’ series themed “Thinking Global, Acting Local”, in the UAE’s capital. She highlighted that PEZA hopes for more Emirati businesses to find footing in the Philippines – seeing that there are six PEZA-registered Emirati companies to date who have contributed PhP 383.405 billion of investments, $22.898 million of exports and employ 1,466 workers as of December 2021.
“Among the more than 4000 PEZA-registered locators, we have six (6) PEZA-registered Emirati enterprises. These companies are engaged in business process outsourcing (BPO), call centers, fabricated metal products except machinery and equipment, engineering, architectural and other design services. As we target Emirati enterprises who are into manufacturing, IT-BPO, Tourism, Medical Tourism, and agro-industry, we are also interested in attracting Emirati investors to locate in the Philippines the following: first, oil depot and fuel/petroleum-related facilities and second, halal food production,” said PEZA Chief Plaza.
Now is the right time
In attendance were Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Hjayceelyn Quintana; Consul General Marford Angeles; Mohamed Al Hosani, Vice President of Investor Relations at Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD); Dr. Qaiser Anis, President of the Pakistan Business Professional Council; Noeleen Saeed, President of the Irish Business Council; Prof. Gau Raganit, Chairman of the Philippine Business Council in Abu Dhabi and the Western Region; together with nearly a hundred CEOs and business heads spanning both in public and private entities in Abu Dhabi for its Global Biz event.
Amb. Quintana highlighted that the Philippines and the UAE relations have gone far beyond labor interactions and are now exploring new avenues of collaboration as both have nearly reached five decades of bilateral relations.
“The bilateral relationship (between the Philippines and the UAE) has matured from being focused on labor cooperation in the first few decades. Now we are aspiring to cooperate in many other areas such as space technology, artificial intelligence, advanced technology and other such innovative and future focus areas of cooperation. Likewise on trade and investment, now’s the time to do business in the Philippines. Our economy is recovering rapidly. In the last quarter of 2021, our GDP grew by 7.7%, making the country’s expansion the highest in the ASEAN region. Our foreign direct investments in 2021 already surpassed the full year level of 2020. This year, we are well on our way to returning to normalcy with the Philippine economy, expected to expand further between 7 and 9%,” said Amb. Quintana.
PEZA is optimistic that their ongoing ‘Global Biz’ series will encourage more Emirati companies to explore the Philippines as a viable and strategic location to expand their business in, with a plethora of benefits that await company owners that will choose to invest in the country.
“As we work together towards strengthening our economic ties, I hope more companies in Abu Dhabi choose to do business in the Philippines. We believe, “Galing Pinas, Galing Pinas!” which means Made in the Philippines is the Best and the Philippines is best to invest in. We thank our Emirati partners and prospect stakeholders in Abu Dhabi for your unwavering support to PEZA,” said PEZA Chief Plaza.
The panel discussions were participated by Amb. Quintana, BGen. Plaza, PBC-Abu Dhabi chairman Prof. Gau Raganit, PEZA Deputy Director General Tereso O. Panga, and was moderated by PEZA’s Promotions and Public Relations Group (PPRG) Group Manager Aleem Siddiqui M. Guiapal. The closing remarks were conveyed by PEZA’S Deputy Director General for Finance and Administration Justo Porfirio Ll. Yusingco. PEZA Investment Promotions Division Chief Raison Arobinto spearheaded the facilitation of the participation of PEZA together with the private sector.
The event concluded with two signings of MoUs: One between PEZA and the Philippine Business Council in Abu Dhabi and one between PEZA and the Prime Group of Companies, a UAE-based company that provides Halal Certifications and Inspections, headed by Dr. Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi.
To learn more, visit: https://www.peza.gov.ph/
