The Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines concluded yesterday the Qatar leg of its three-day Outbound Business Matching Mission (OBMM), which saw the participation of a dozen exporting companies seeking to access the Gulf and Middle East markets.

Vince Lorenzo Liwanag, the Commercial Attaché of the Philippine Trade Investment Centre (PTIC) – Riyadh, Department of Trade and Industry, told Gulf Times that the next OBMMs will be held in Amman, Jordan from February 9-11; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (February 11-13); and concludes in Dubai (February 13-21) during ‘Gulfood 2025’.

Liwanag said: “The OBMM is an annual initiative held in various countries in the Middle East. With the support of the Philippine embassy in Doha and the Qatar Chamber, we successfully organised the latest OBMM business-to-business event, featuring a range of companies based in Doha.

“This initiative is organised by the Department of Trade and Industry to support our exporters. The Philippines has numerous innovative brands and products, and we are taking these offerings to international markets.”

The companies represented a wide range of sectors, including fresh/frozen produce, processed foods, and personal care and pharmaceuticals, said Liwanag, who added that the Philippine delegation was able to visit different hypermarkets in Doha and hold B2B meetings with their counterparts in Qatar.

Citing the Philippines’ long-term vision, the ‘AmBisyon Natin 2040’, Philippine ambassador Mardomel Celo D Melicor addressed the OBMM event, saying efficient manufacturing and exporting infrastructure are essential to achieving economic development by 2040.

Melicor also underscored the value of staying open to global markets to better understand their demands and produce goods that would benefit the Philippine economy.

“This openness will also help attract investments to our country, particularly from Qatar... I believe there are always niche opportunities for collaboration between the Philippines and Qatar,” noted the ambassador, who also enjoined Philippine exporters to consider what Qatar can offer in terms of food security.

In his remarks, Qatar Chamber Board Member Abdulla bin Mohamed al-Emadi lauded the OBMM event, saying the initiative is a platform to explore new avenues for economic cooperation and investment between Qatar and the Philippines. Al-Emadi emphasised the significance of the visit by the Filipino business delegation in strengthening economic and commercial ties between both nations. He highlighted the close and rapidly expanding relations between the two countries, particularly in trade and investment, as reflected in high-level visits and numerous agreements signed across various sectors.

He said the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the Philippines last year led to the signing of multiple agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs). He also noted that Qatar-Philippines bilateral trade stood at QR636mn in 2024, reflecting the growing partnership between the two nations.

Al-Emadi further stressed the vital role of the private sector in fostering economic relations, encouraging businesses from both sides to explore joint ventures, trade partnerships, and investment opportunities. He reaffirmed Qatar Chamber’s commitment to facilitating partnerships and supporting Qatari businesses in identifying investment prospects in the Philippines.