Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Enunina “Nina” Mangio has invited Qatari investors to explore opportunities in the Philippines, particularly in agricultural technology, infrastructure, and technology transfer.
Mangio was recently in Qatar to lead the PCCI delegation during meetings with different private and public sector entities, including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Qatar Chamber, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and tourism officials.
“We are inviting the Qataris to explore what the Philippines has to offer as a possible investment opportunity for agricultural technology, infrastructure, and at the same time, technology transfer of any kind,” Mangio told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview.
Mangio underscored the significance of the meetings of the PCCI delegation with Qatari officials, describing these engagements as vital steps in strengthening bilateral business ties and opening new channels for cooperation.
According to Mangio, the PCCI mission comprises 40 delegates representing about 30 companies across diverse sectors, including labour, real estate, monorails, construction, and water technology.
Mangio explained that the chamber’s advocacy focuses on giving small and medium enterprises (SMEs) the chance to expand abroad through partnerships, trade exchanges, and technology transfer.
“Since we are more concerned with the future of our small and medium enterprises, we want them to have the opportunity to expand to other countries and at the same time to be... in partnership or trade exchange or technology transfer,” she explained.
She also highlighted a specific technology pitch for Qatar: seawater treatment for drinking water without brine solution. “This technology is coming from the US and brought to the Philippines, and we have some engineers who are trained in this field, so we want to bring it to Qatar,” she emphasised.
Mangio also reassured potential investors, especially from Qatar, about the Philippines’ business climate: “The Philippines is a very peaceful country, and we can be considered as one of the best investment hubs in the Southeast Asian region.
“The Philippine government is effectively navigating economic challenges to ensure that investors remain unaffected. We are committed to alleviating their concerns by streamlining the ease of doing business while actively addressing any issues that may arise,” she pointed out.
Mangio also co-chaired the Qatar-Philippines Business Meeting alongside Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, who represented the Qatar side. Both officials reviewed the economic and commercial relations between the two countries.
The meeting, which also discussed the investment climate and the available opportunities across various sectors, was attended by first vice chairman Mohammed bin Towar al-Kuwari, second vice-chairman Rashid bin Hamad al-Athba, and Philippine ambassador Mardomel Celo D Melicor, as well as many business owners from both sides.
Speaking at the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa lauded Qatari-Filipino relations, saying they witnessed “remarkable development” year-on-year, and were further strengthened by the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Manila in April 2024, marking a qualitative shift and culminating in the signing of several important agreements.
Sheikh Khalifa stressed 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.