The diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the State of Qatar have grown significantly over the years. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on May 5, 1981. Qatar established its embassy in the Philippines in 1994.
The Philippines opened its embassy in Doha two years earlier in 1992, appointing its first resident ambassador in 1994. In April 2012, the Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani visited the Philippines in a first-ofits-kind by an Arab leader in three decades.
During then-president Benigno Aquino III’s term, the visit further consolidated relations between the two countries, ushering a new era of Qatari-Philippine cooperation in several fields.
Meanwhile, the current President of the Philippines visited Doha in 2017, a trip that further strengthens the ties between the countries as deals worth over $200bn were signed. Ramon Lopez, the secretary of trade and industry, added that there is also the possibility of a new investment agreement of up to $1 billion with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund.
Qatar is home to a reported 300,000 Filipinos spread from construction, tourism, information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banks, and more, making them one of the largest expatriate communities in the country.
As of 2017, over 200 Philippine companies are operational in Qatar in many fields. Also, Qatar, through several mediums like Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), Qatar Red Cross Society (QRCS), the Embassy of Qatar in Manila, has provided aid to the Philippines when needed, especially during aftermaths of natural disasters like typhoons, volcano eruptions, and earthquakes. In December last year, more than 40 tonnes of food and non-food items were sent by Qatar’s government to help Filipino families affected by recent typhoons.
Meanwhile, to mark the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties, Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani exchanged greetings with the Philippines President H E Rodrigo Duterte. The Amir and the Philippines President expressed their satisfaction with Qatar and the Philippines’ growing relations and partnerships over the past four decades. President Duterte further praised the care given to the Filipino community living in the country. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines H E Teodoro Locsin, also affirmed his country’s keenness on deepening and developing bilateral relations with Qatar. In a recorded statement, Locsin said, “Today we celebrate the 40th anniversary of establishing our diplomatic relations. It is a celebration of enduring friendship, fruitful relationships over the years, and optimism for our future.”
