President Duterte is set to embark on a three-nation swing in the Middle East this week to advance the country’s interests, including the protection of the rights and welfare of Filipino workers there.

The President is scheduled to depart Davao City this afternoon for his weeklong journey abroad on a mission for “people, progress, and partnerships.”

Duterte will first pay a state visit to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 10-12, followed by Kingdom of Bahrain on April 12-14, and State of Qatar on April 14-16. His historic visit includes meetings with the royal leaders of the Middle Eastern countries as well as the Filipino communities there.

“The President hopes that through the stronger partnerships he will forge during this visit, he can tap into the over US$500 billion combined investment capital of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and State of Qatar and bring home more investments and jobs for our people,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Hjayceelyn Quintana said in a recent Palace press briefing.

Quintana said the President’s visit to the Middle East seeks to strengthen efforts for the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of the more than one million of Filipino workers.

She said the President also plans to “invite investors to the Philippines and usher in progress here at home, and to forge stronger partnerships by elevating our political and economic cooperation with these countries to new heights.”

In Riyadh, the President is expected to meet with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Duterte will also hold talks with Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Manama as well as Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha.

Quintana said the President will tackle matters related to welfare and dignity of the Filipinos living in their countries as well as explore avenues for economic and political cooperation during his meeting with the Middle East leaders.

She said the President will also look into possible partnerships in tourism development, halal food security, Islamic finance and energy security, as well as investments during his Middle East trip.

He is also expected these countries to invest in the country, particularly in Mindanao mired in poverty and conflict.

Several agreements on labor, agriculture, air services, culture, health and political bilateral consultations are also expected to be signed during the President’s visit to the Middle East.

Duterte is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with the Filipino communities in Riyadh, Manama and Doha. In Saudi Arabia, there are 760,000 Filipinos. In Bahrain, there are about 60,000 Filipino while in Qatar, there are about 250,000 Filipinos.

“The President hopes to inspire people making a living in these countries to help him build a more developed and economically vibrant Philippines,” Quintana said.

“The President desires that in the not so distant future there will be no longer be a reason for Filipinos to leave their families behind in order to make a living,” she added.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Genalyn D. Kabiling

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