Manila, Philippines – It has been nearly three years since the Philippines and Saudi Arabia solidified their cooperation across a broader spectrum of areas.
During President Ferdinand Marcos’s visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2023, agreements regarding trade and investment, labor cooperation, and renewable energy were reached during a bilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman.
This year, the government continues its efforts to strengthen economic cooperation and bilateral ties, aiming to create more opportunities that benefit both nations.
In April of this year, a Philippine delegation led by Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia H.E. Raymond Balatbat met with the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce to discuss expanding bilateral agreements.
Meanwhile, during a visit to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia—Chairman Emeritus of the Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD)—reaffirmed coordination with the country’s private sector, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Goitia emphasized that the strengthened relationship between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia has made significant contributions, evidenced by the growing number of business and investment activities involving both countries.
He noted that this development stems from the presence of generations of Filipino workers based in Saudi Arabia and aligns with the administration’s objective to expand economic and investment cooperation.
According to data from the Department of Migrant Workers, there are nearly one million Filipinos based in Saudi Arabia.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News