25-11-2025
Qatar Chamber (QCCI) held, on Tuesday, November 25, the Qatari–Philippine Business Meeting, which was co-chaired by HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber, and HE Enunina Mangio, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
The meeting was also attended by HE Mohammed bin Twar Al Kuwari, First Vice-Chairman, HE Rashid bin Hamad Al Athba, Second Vice-Chairman, and HE Mardomil Celo D. Melicor, Ambassador Extraordinary of the Republic of the Philippines to the State of Qatar, and many business owners from both sides.
The meeting focused on reviewing economic and commercial relations between Qatar and the Philippines and exploring ways to strengthen them, in addition to discussing the investment climate and the opportunities available to both sides across various sectors.
In his remarks, HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim said that Qatari Filipino relations have witnessed remarkable development over the past years, further strengthened by the visit of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Manila in April 2024. This visit marked a qualitative shift and culminated in the signing of several important agreements.
He pointed out that the strong alignment between Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Development Plan of the Republic of the Philippines forms a solid foundation for building a long-term strategic partnership. He noted that there are several key sectors that constitute the basis for cooperation between the two countries, such as agriculture and food security, renewable energy, technology and innovation, labour, healthcare, digital transformation, infrastructure development, transportation and water networks, as well as smart city applications and others.
Sheikh Khalifa also emphasised that the human element is one of the most prominent pillars of relations between the two countries. He highlighted the significant role played by the Filipino community over the past decades in Qatar’s development process, noting their active presence in various sectors, especially construction, healthcare, and food services and during the preparation phase for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
For her part, HE Enunina Mangio, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), expressed her gratitude to the Qatar Chamber for hosting the Business Forum, noting that it reflects the shared goals between the two countries and their full commitment to implementing the agreements signed during the visit of HH the Emir to the Philippines, as well as to expanding cooperation to broader horizons.
She noted that the meeting contributes to strengthening bilateral relations and transforming agreements into tangible cooperation between the business sectors on both sides. She added that the Philippine delegation includes members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and several major companies representing sectors such as healthcare, labor, construction, real estate, agriculture, energy, renewable energy, and digitalisation.
Mangio emphasised that there are many opportunities for cooperation, exchange of expertise, and partnership between companies from both countries in areas such as infrastructure, expansion of trade and industry, enhancement of agriculture and food security, and growth in technology and innovation. She also invited members of the Qatar Chamber and Qatari business owners to visit the Philippines to explore the available investment opportunities and meet with their Filipino counterparts.
In turn, HE Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari emphasised the interest of Qatari businessmen in learning about the investment opportunities available in the Philippines. He noted that Qatar also offers many promising investment opportunities that could attract the interest of Filipino investors.
He added that Qatari business owners already have investments and joint ventures with their counterparts in the Philippines, and that there are ample opportunities to further strengthen these partnerships through regular business meetings and continuous engagement.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed, through a set of presentations, the investment opportunities available across various sectors, as well as the overall investment climate in each country. Ghanem Al-Saadi, Manager of Investor Relations at the Free Zones Authority, delivered a presentation highlighting the opportunities and investment incentives offered within Qatar’s free zones. Meanwhile, Vince Lorenzo Liwanag, Commercial Attaché at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center, gave a presentation entitled “Overview of Philippines Investment Regulations”
HE Leo Tereso Magno, Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority, also presented a session entitled “Opportunities in the Mindanao Region.”
