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Wazzup Pilipinas!?
In the last third of April of this year, the Philippines will witness a unique and exceptional event, because it does not happen often, and it has an importance that makes it exceptional, and the event is the visit that His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, “may God protect him,” will pay as part of... A tour of the Far Eastern countries of the Asian continent, emphasizing the strengthening of that strong bond that connects the Far East of the continent with its Near East.
Perhaps it goes without saying that we point out the international status achieved by a Qatar. This can only be achieved with clarity of vision, insight, absence of a hidden agenda, and lack of ambiguity of positions, which has made the State of Qatar an acceptable mediator for resolving disputes, and success has always been its ally. There are multiple models, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Darfur, and the example is Alive and fresh, the mediation between Israel and Hamas, and the resulting release of many detainees held by Hamas, including Filipinos, was praised by the President of the Republic, Ferdinand Marcos, who expressed his gratitude for the Qatari role, and Foreign Minister Enrico Manalo also wrote, “We acknowledge and greatly appreciate “The crucial Qatari mediation role and efforts in opening the Rafah border crossing, allowing foreign nationals, including Filipinos, to exit Gaza, and we and Qatar are united in our goal of achieving lasting peace in the region.”
The visit of His Highness the Emir to the Philippines comes 12 years after the visit of His Highness the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, on April 11, 2012, and he witnessed with the former Aquino the signing of many agreements, in addition to a number of memorandums of understanding, where a memorandum of understanding was signed. for tourism cooperation, a second for cooperation in the legal field, a third for agriculture and fish resources, and a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the investment field. The Philippine President awarded his guest the Lackndula Medal, the highest honor in the Philippines, in appreciation of His Highness and for strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
On April 16, 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte strengthened relations with a visit to Doha and met with the Emir of the country, His Highness Sheikh Tamim, and they witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding in the cultural, educational, health, and investment fields.
This April 2024 coincides with the forty-third anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of the Philippines. Over the course of four decades, relations have been in steady development. Within the framework of legislative reforms, the wise leadership has paved the way for labor policy reform, representing a new era for the labor market. A road map that many countries described as a “giant step” reflects the state’s commitment to granting migrant workers more freedom and protection, and provides employers with more options. The State of Qatar was the pioneer and initiator, as these reforms became a model for countries in the region to emulate, and received praise from countries. In the world and its international organizations, the State of Qatar is considered the first Arab country to actually carry out important reforms in labor policies.
It is essential to mention that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to its bilateral relations with the Philippines, and seeks to deepen its partnership in various fields. Bilateral cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of the Philippines expanded during this era to broader horizons, to include the humanitarian and popular fields.
The State of Qatar hosts more than 246,000 Filipinos working in various sectors. There are more than 737 Filipino companies operating in the Qatari market, 8 of them with 100% capital, and the rest with partial purchased capital, in various activities, and based on principles based on justice and fairness, the State of Qatar always appreciates and values the role played by Filipino workers, and their contributions to the development that The country is witnessing, especially the vital role in preparing to organize the World Cup competitions, a step that was a real challenge, and yet it was impressive.
It should be noted that Qatar Airways was the only airline that remained operating during the closure period, in evacuating Filipinos and returning them to their homeland, and in transporting vaccines, safety and medical protective equipment to the Philippines and others, when there were no options.
It is so crucial to say that the Philippines, with its picturesque nature, diversity, and hospitable people, has formed an important tourist destination for many Qatari citizens, and the opportunity is favorable to revive trade exchange between the two countries, through the current signing of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry in developing trade exchange and developing economic cooperation between the private sector in both countries. The two countries, by establishing economic partnerships between Qatari businessmen and their counterparts from the Philippines, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Davao, which will play an important role after activation and entry into force.
This was a quick highlight before the exceptional event, as I mentioned, the visit of His Highness the Amir, which will undoubtedly be an important imprint and a milestone in the process of Qatari-Philippine relations. Welcome, Your Highness, and we await your arrival in April, which will no longer be a month of lies
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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