Ahead of the Expo 2020 Dubai opening this October, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (PDTI) is optimistic that the global event would catalyze robust and sustainable increase in trade exchanges between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East, as bilateral trade between the two nations rose 32 percent during the first 5 months of 2021.
The PDTI, the lead implementing agency of the Philippines’ participation in the Expo 2020 said the country’s total trade – export and import – with the UAE crossed Dh1.33 billion ($362 million) for the period of January to May 2021, with exports valued at Dh411 million ($112 million) and imports at Dh918 million ($250 million).
With more than 190 countries converging in the Expo—the biggest event ever held in the Middle East—the Philippines aims to showcase the very best of its culture, heritage, and technology to millions of global audiences, in order to draw investors to the country.