Independence Day of Philippines celebrated

Philippine Consul General Antonio S. Curameng welcomed members of the diplomatic corps as well as dignitaries from the Dubai Government led by Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Minister for Environment and Water. Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Libran Cabactulan and members of the Filipino community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates were also in attendance.

In his welcome speech, Consul General Curameng used glowing words to describe the long-standing alliance between the Philippines and the UAE and described the relationship as evidenced in the growing diplomatic and bilateral trade relations of the two countries.

Currently, the UAE is the leading export market in the Middle East and Africa for products from the Philippines. In a recent report released by the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre in Dubai, it was observed that bilateral trade relations between the UAE and the Philippines had grown an average of 15 per cent annually between 1995 and 2005.

Likewise, import of UAE products, particularly petroleum, have risen by an annual average of 25.16 per cent during a 10-year period in keeping with petroleum requirements of Philippine industries, according to the report.

Curameng also said that the UAE, particularly Dubai and the the Northern Emirates, were fast drawing an emerging Filipino community comprising some 150,000 individuals, more than 80 per cent of whom were professionals.