Duterte invites Qatari investors to Philippines

Published: 16 Apr 2017 - 12:27 am | Last Updated: 01 Nov 2021 - 07:07 am

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (centre) Qatar Chamber Vice- Chairman Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari (right) and one of the members of the accompanying trade delegation during the Philippine-Qatar Business Forum held at the Four Sessons Hotel,

By Mohammad Shoeb / The Peninsula

The visiting President of the Republic of Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte has invited Qatari investors to explore the vast opportunities available in his country.

Duterte, the popular president of the Southeast Asian nation, stressed that his agro-based island nation, which produces dozens of export-oriented crops such as banana, cacao, cassava, coffee, rubber and scores of other cash crops, offers promising opportunities of investment for Qatari investors.

“We will honour any contract that we sign. The Philippines is fully committed to all its trade partners. It is now much more easier to establish a business in the Philippines than before. I am committed to transforming my country into a completely corruption-free society, no matter whatever it takes,” said the President in his nearly half-an hour long extempore speech at the Philippines-Qatar Business Forum organised by Qatar Chamber.

Doha was the last leg of President Duterte’s week-long (April 10-16) three-nation official visit, which included Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. There is an accompanying high level trade delegation consisting of a long list of prominent business leaders and key ministers of his cabinet, to strengthening political and economic ties with the GCC countries.

Present at the meeting were high level dignitaries, senior diplomats, prominent Qatari businessmen, including Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari, Vice-Chairman of Qatar Chamber (QC).

Al Kuwari in his address said that Qatar and Philippine are friendly countries. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1981, there were significant efforts to bolster the bilateral elations. He invited Philippines businessmen to increase their businesses in Qatar and build joint ventures with Qatari businessmen.