By Ashraf Siddiqui

DOHA - Exportation of more products could enhance bilateral trade between the Philippines and Qatar.

During the two-day business matching session in Doha, Qatar that concluded on Thursday, Philippine ambassador to Qatar Lillibeth Pono said 2021 annual bilateral trade between Qatar and Philippines was around US$224 million, of which $46 million were exports from the Philippines.

Pono said this gap in the balance of payment in favor of Qatar can be minimized considering an International Trade Center report citing the Philippines has the potential to increase its exports of food and agro-based products to Qatar by over USD19 million.

"These are not only trade of products in Qatar market, it is promoting of great name of Philippines in this region," she said.

The envoy added that Philippine products meet global standards of quality therefore, these are marketable and can stand with the dynamics of ups and down in the global trade of economic environment.

Pono said Filipino products and personal health care are not just for Filipinos and Asians but these also cater to the taste of all other cultures, noting enormous opportunities to enhance trade between both the countries.

She said Qatar ranks 41st among the trade partner of the Philippines. Qatar is home to over 260,000 Filipinos and large number of other Asian expatriates that means a substantial size of Qatari population has similar taste.

In the same event, Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) Assistant Secretary Glenn Penaranda thanked the ambassador for her presence and support to the visiting delegation and the Philippine products.

Penaranda said his delegation was not visiting just to trade their products but also pursue mutually beneficial business relationship.

He said the Philippines is blessed with fertile lands, rich and diversified marine resources and highly skilled manpower, as it aims to serve mainstream market of Qatar.

Penaranda headed the 14-member Filipino exporters' delegation to the business matching event in Qatar organized by the embassy of Philippines in Qatar, in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry.

The delegation, which is on its way to Dubai, the 4th and last leg of its visit to the Gulf countries, arrived in Qatar after visiting Bahrain and Kuwait.

The business matching event in Qatar was also attended by Charmaine Mignon Yalong, Commercial Attache for Middle East and Africa; Greg Loayon, chairperson of the Philippines Business Group Qatar; Qatar-based representatives of importers of food stuff companies; and members of Philippines business community. (PNA)

Ashraf Siddiqui, a well-known journalist with a rich experience of over four decades in the Gulf States