ShareThisMANILA — Vice President Jejomar C. Binay welcomed the interest of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to invest in agriculture, saying such investments would help provide jobs and spur economic growth in the countrysides.
VP Jojo Binay
“That is definitely good news for the country, since the UAE is an important partner,” Binay said.
Binay said that after Saudi Arabia, the UAE is the country’s second largest trading partner in the Middle East.
The Vice President met UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who paid a courtesy call at the Office of the Vice President last Wednesday.
The Foreign Minister, who is here in the country for a one-day visit, is accompanied by a delegation of UAE government and business leaders, including officials of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, and the Abu Dhabi Petroleum Investment Corp.
The Vice President also thanked the Foreign Minister for hastening relations between the two nations, especially since around half a million Filipinos are working in the UAE.
Binay also expressed confidence that both countries will work together to address the concerns of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in the UAE. “We thank the UAE for the help extended to our Filipino workers. I am looking forward to working closely with the authorities to address labor concerns,” Binay said.
The Vice President has been designated as Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns.
Binay also welcomed the opportunity to further enhance the economic relationship and exploring business and investment opportunities, particularly in agriculture, between the Philippines and the UAE.
The Foreign Minister said that the UAE is interested in looking for business partners to work on its needs since it imports most of its food.
Sheikh Abdullah’s visit marks the 30th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the UAE. It is also part of the Foreign Minister’s five-nation working tour of Asia, which include China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.