Minister at Oman-Cebu investment forum in Philippines

Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi and Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali Baowain, Oman's Minister of Labour, participated in the first Oman–Cebu Investment Forum held in the Republic of the Philippines.

The Foreign Minister delivered the opening address at the forum, which is jointly organised by the Foreign Ministry, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the relevant authorities in the Filipino city of Cebu.

Sayyid Badr, emphasised the importance of transforming existing friendly relations into mutual trade and investment partnerships by fostering a conducive environment and raising awareness of the opportunities available. Promising sectors include green and renewable energy, logistics, tourism, real estate development, food industries, healthcare, artificial intelligence, data centres, robotics, and information technology.

“For many decades, Oman has been a popular destination for overseas Filipino workers, who have found not just employment but a second home in our country. Nearly 50,000 of them today thrive in an environment of safety, respect and opportunity, embraced by the Omani people who, with the Filipino people, share a spirit of modesty, hospitality and tolerance,” he said.

The Minister said that this strong human foundation serves as a starting point for expanding cooperation beyond labour into trade and investment, opening wider horizons for the business communities of both Oman and the Philippines.

“This forum represents an open invitation, an invitation to think big, to explore, and to invest in each other’s futures,” he added.

The first Oman-Cebu Investment Forum aimed to promote cultural, commercial, tourism, and investment ties between Oman and the Philippines while enabling economic partnerships by providing an attractive platform for exchanging ideas and fostering collaborations across various sectors of the two nations.

The forum was attended by representatives from the public and private sectors of both countries.

To view the full text of the Minister's speech to the Forum please click here.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.