Emirs of Kuwait, Qatar to visit Phl this month

MANILA, Philippines - The emirs of Kuwait and Qatar will visit the Philippines this month and in April, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said that the Emir of Kuwait, Sheik Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, would embark on a state visit from March 26-28.

An advance team is now in Manila.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani will arrive in Manila next month for a state visit from April 10-11.

“The Emir of Qatar and the Emir of Kuwait are coming at our invitation,” Del Rosario said.

The Philippines is eyeing $3 billion investments from Qatar and Kuwait for this year alone.

The secretary said Kuwait is a significant and large investor in the Philippines that is putting up the 177-hectare Logistics Park, with a potential investment of $2 billion.

“And you can see this thing coming up from the ground already,” he said.

Qatar, on the other hand, has joint ventures with San Miguel.

“Qatar is proposing an investment fund for infrastructure to the tune of a billion dollars and so we are in the process of negotiating the terms of that facility,” Del Rosario added.