President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has left the country for a working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), promising to return with “good news” on strengthened bilateral ties and global sustainability efforts.
“I am confident that upon my return, I will bring good news on the new heights of our friendship and collaboration with the UAE, as well as on the shared vision and strategy with our global partners on sustainability, for the benefit of the Filipino people,” Marcos said in his departure statement.
He departed Manila at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 12, and will attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“I will join other Heads of State and Government in the discussions and collaborative efforts to advance global sustainability. The forum will endeavor to find solutions to the challenges of the present and of the future, to which a unified approach by the community of nations is required,” Marcos said.
“The Philippines will actively participate in the dialogues to find answers to the complex and interconnected issues on energy, water, finance, food, and the environment, and expects to gain valuable insights from the views of other world leaders,” he added.
During his visit, Marcos will sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Philippines’ first free trade agreement with a Middle Eastern country, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation.
“The signing of these two agreements is a testament to the deep bilateral ties between our two countries, and more importantly, between Filipinos and Emiratis,” he said.
“The Philippines-UAE CEPA, our very first FTA with a country in the Middle East, will expand the market access of the Philippines in the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf Region,” Marcos added.
“Meanwhile, the MOU on Defense Cooperation will serve as a strong platform for collaboration with the UAE for advanced defense technologies,” he further said.
Marcos also noted that the UAE is home to around 900,000 Filipinos, saying any mutually beneficial arrangements will benefit Filipinos both at home and abroad.