Saleh Fareed

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH – Thirteen trading companies from the Philippines, headed by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), recently visited the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industrial (JCCI) and presented investment opportunities for Saudi businessmen in in the agricultural sector, food and cosmetics.



The business meeting was attended by Philippine Consul General Uriel Norman R. Garibay, Khalid Saleh Sabir, director of business sector at the JCCI, and a large number of Saudi businessmen based in Jeddah.



Garibay said the visit by the Filipino trade delegation was aimed to bolster trade relations between the Philippines and the Kingdom.



He said “bilateral merchandise trade between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been expanding in recent years, but we are hoping to surpass the already existing trade figure which has reached SR14 billion.”



He also said the Filipino trade delegation held talks with the Saudi Chambers of Commerce in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah in order to encourage  Saudi businessmen to look at what the Philippines could offer.



Garibay further said the Philippines and Saudi Arabia have good trade relations and Saudi Arabia ranked first as the Philippines’ trading partner and import supplier, and ranked second as export market in the Middle East region.

 

“Philippine-Saudi political relations remain friendly and strong and the good relationship between the two countries is manifested in various areas,” he added.



According JCCI, there are some 700,000 Filipinos working in the Kingdom. Many of them are skilled workers or professionals in business and industry.