Arrival Statement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his working visit to the United Arab Emirates

Mga kababayan,

In my short two-day visit to the UAE, I participated in the discussions on a “future-ready world” with other Heads of State and Government.

I had productive dialogues focusing on the important sectors of energy, water, finance, food, and the environment—matters which affect every Filipino, both here and abroad.

I assured them that the Philippines is committed to finding solutions and to implementing the policies needed for a sustainable future for the people.

The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) staged the biggest gathering of world leaders to a focused discussion on sustainability.

I congratulate His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the people of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for hosting an important forum on matters of great consequence to the whole world.

I have taken note of the views and efforts of my fellow government leaders in tackling the complex issues relevant to the world’s future.

I am also happy to report on the successful signing of two (2) agreements of paramount importance to the Philippines—the free trade agreement (FTA) with the UAE or the Philippines-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation.

The Philippines-UAE CEPA, our very first free trade agreement with a country in the Middle East, will expand the market access of the Philippines in the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf Region, and will diversify our sources and markets of essential goods.

A significant feature of this FTA is the further liberalization of trade in services in the UAE, including the supply of professional services, health, construction, and IT, among others.

This enhancement of market access by the UAE for Filipino service providers is a clear recognition of the professional competence and excellence of Filipinos in these fields. It is also an acknowledgement of their invaluable contributions to the UAE’s economy.

The MOU on Defense Cooperation will serve as a strong platform for collaboration with the UAE on advanced defense technologies, particularly in unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, and naval systems, which are crucial for modernizing and enhancing the capabilities of our Armed Forces.

This agreement shall further strengthen our defense and military relations, through education and training, intelligence and security sharing, and cooperation in the fields of anti-terrorism, maritime security, and peacekeeping operations.

These new agreements were forged based on the strength of our bilateral relations with the UAE, founded on the strong people-to-people ties which our countrymen have built over decades of friendship with the people of the UAE.

In my meetings with the President and the Prime Minister of the UAE, I expressed confidence in the future of our relations and its contributions to our shared advocacies.

The Philippines will continue to enhance our bilateral ties with other countries with the goal of further strengthening our economy and ensuring peace and stability for the benefit of the Filipino people.

Maraming salamat po.

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