DUBAI: The Philippines and Dubai are top trading partners with bilateral trade growing significantly in recent years to exceed $680 million in 2016, according to Atiq Juma Faraj Nasib, SVP Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in his keynote address at the recent Interface 2017 hosted by the Philippine Business Council of Dubai and the Northern Emirates (PBC DNE), in collaboration with the ASEAN Business Councils Alliance (ABCA).
He added, “Dubai is the midst of a major economic transformation as it implements key strategies under the Dubai Plan 2021 and ramps up infrastructure spending ahead of Expo 2020. These strategic plans are creating plenty of exciting new business opportunities which Filipino companies stand to benefit from.”
Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, keynote speaker, shared, “The trajectory of the Philippine economy in the past couple of years has provided overseas Filipino Workers in the UAE with a renewed fervor in proactive engagement of the global business community and a more aggressive show of our interest in the trends in the international economic scene.”
Meanwhile, highlighting the importance of events like Interface to the local business community, PBC DNE Chairman Bobbie Carella underscored the special role played by the non-profit organization.
“As vanguards of Philippine entrepreneurship in the UAE, PBC DNE promotes knowledge exchange, as well as active cooperation not only among its members, but also with the larger multicultural business community in the emirates,” she said, adding that such events “provide us an opportunity not only to meet, but also to form important bonds that strengthen the local business community.”
Also heading the attendees were panelists – Sharief Habib Al Awadhi – CEO & Director General (Fujairah Free Zone Authority), Capt. Koh Chen Tien – Executive Director (Sheikh Rakadh Group of Companies), and Chairman (Makamin Offshore Saudi Ltd); and Richard McGuire – Director, Procurement (Expo 2020).
Senior members of the Italy, India, Pakistan, Swiss, Turkey, Spain, Sri Lanka business councils, aside from the executive committees of the ASEAN Business Alliance Council (Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand) which is chaired by the Philippines this year, where also present at the event.
