THE Philippines and Oman can establish “economic corridors” to connect the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Southeast Asia by improving air and sea links, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said.
During the Oman-Philippines investment forum on July 26, Lazaro said the two countries can position themselves as “primary trade distribution hubs for both regions” by strengthening their maritime links, air connectivity and logistics integration.
“As maritime nations, the Philippines and Oman share a deep historical connection to sea-based trade and navigation. Today, we must actively translate the shared geographic identity into a strategic economic advantage,” Lazaro said in her keynote address.
She said Oman “serves as a stable strategic gateway to the Gulf Cooperation Council and the broader Middle Eastern market.”
The GCC is composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The 11-member Asean is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
“Concurrently, the Philippines is situated in the heart of the Indo-Pacific, offers direct access to the 680 million-strong, Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) single market,” Lazaro said.
“Our bilateral relations have been anchored on trade, energy, and in the valuable contributions of the Filipino community in Oman,” she added.
“As we look forward, we must build on this solid foundation by maximizing our positions as regional gateways and deepening our commercial ties,” Lazaro said.
