MANILA, Philippines — The strong relations between Manila and Abu Dhabi led to the agreement to sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Philippines' first free trade agreement in the Middle East.
Special Envoy for Trade and Investment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ma. Anna Kathryna Yu-Pimentel said the CEPA “is a historic step for Philippine trade and investment in the Middle East.”
Yu-Pimentel issued the statement on Sunday ahead of the expected signing of the CEPA, which she described as a milestone for Philippine trade and investment in the region.
She said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will undertake a one-day working visit to the UAE to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Malacañang said the visit, scheduled on Jan. 12, is upon the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“CEPA reflects the depth of trust and cooperation between the Marcos administration and the UAE government,” Yu-Pimentel said in a statement.
It covers trade in goods and services, investments, small and medium enterprises, digitalization, customs cooperation, governance, and sustainability.
UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Mohamed Alqataam Alzaabi earlier said the CEPA, once signed, will further boost trade and investment between the two countries.
He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of more than one million Filipinos living and working in the UAE.
Yu-Pimentel said negotiations gained momentum following meetings during the World Government Summit in Dubai in 2025.
