DUBAI: The Philippines is eager to expand cooperation with the UAE in several fields as both countries will mark next year the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, a top Philippine diplomat told the Emirates News Agency. 

“We have recently been exploring cooperation in areas of innovation and technology. For example, the UAE has been taking a leading role in space exploration, having put a Martian probe into orbit last year and putting the first Arab astronaut into space early this year,” Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand A. Ver said. 

The ambassador noted that the Philippines, which has been developing its own nanosatellite technology, and the UAE signed a memorandum of understanding on space cooperation between their two space agencies, PhilSA and UAESA. 

The Philippines and the UAE are also discussing an MoU on scientific and technological cooperation, which would include cooperation in artificial intelligence.

With the UAE declaring 2023 as the Year of Sustainability, Ver said the Philippines and the UAE have many opportunities to collaborate on sustainable development efforts.

“This year, as the UAE hosts COP28, the Philippines is discussing with the UAE a Philippines-UAE framework agreement on renewable energy. Likewise, the Philippines aims to propose an MoU on climate change cooperation with the UAE,” he said.

As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the diplomat explained, the Philippines is interested in working with the UAE for a sustainable future, given its leading role in climate change initiatives, particularly in renewable energy through Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co.’s investments in pilot projects around the world.

Ver added that the Philippines is also keen to boost cooperation in trade and investment.

“Last year, the Philippines and the UAE signed an agreement to promote and protect mutual investments. This year, we are looking at a comprehensive economic partnership agreement to be signed, as we foresee so much potential for growth,” he said.

“These initiatives are expected to boost trade and investments between the two countries, leading to more diversified economic activities, development of new industries, employment generation, and higher consumer spending as we partner for shared prosperity.”

In 2022, bilateral trade between the UAE and the Philippines increased by 49.9 percent to $1.52 billion, the envoy said. The foundation of the countries’ bilateral relations remained people-to-people, he added, noting that a million Filipinos live and work in the UAE. 

Many cooperation initiatives, such as the Committee on Bilateral Labour Cooperation, the Joint Committee on Consular Matters, and the Joint Committee on Combating Human Trafficking, provide procedures for the safety of both Filipino and Emirati nationals in their respective countries.