Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Acting Secretary Cristina Roque traveled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to bolster Philippine exports and explore investment opportunities.
According to a release on Monday, Roque met with Sirius International Holding, a subsidiary of IHC, the second-largest holding company in the region, to discuss potential investments in the digital economy of the Philippines.
Sirius International Holding oversees investments in technology sectors across multiple industries, including fisheries, construction, nuclear power plants, healthcare, and hospitality.
This meeting aligned with the government’s “Bagong Pilipinas” thrust, which aims for a futuristic, inclusive, and sustainable approach to the nation’s development.
“To achieve this vision, the DTI pursues high-value investments to boost the country’s technological capabilities,” the agency said.
Based on a previous release on Sunday, Roque also met with Spinneys and the Lulu Group International.
Roque explored potential collaborations with Spinneys to boost the retail sector in the UAE and promote the export of products from Philippine small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Lulu Group International, a top multinational conglomerate, also discussed with Roque their plans to bring more SME products into the Philippines.
Lulu Group International operates 258 stores across the UAE and has a logistics and export center located in Laguna.
The DTI and Lulu Group signed a memorandum of agreement to formalize the partnership.