Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sec. Gen. Hussein Al-Athel (left) receives Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago in Riyadh. RIYADH — Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago led Embassy officials in meeting with high-level Saudi businesspeople from the private sector here recently. The meetings were part of the Philippine Embassy's efforts to boost economic relations with the Kingdom. Tago met with Walid Al-Suwaidan, President of the Saudi-Philippine Business Council (SPBC), and Hussein Al-Athel, the Secretary General of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), respectively. Tago and Al-Suwaidan met at the headquarters of the Council of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh and were joined by Labor Attache Albert Valenciano, Cultural Attache Mohammad Taha Guinomla and Economic Assistant Edison Ipac. The SPBC is currently being reconstituted along with other business councils for other councils, after its term ended recently. Al-Suwaidan stressed that the Saudi and Filipino people are partners in national development and said, “Because of our long partnership in manpower and the generations of working together, our people know each other very well.” He lauded Filipinos for their professionalism and skills. Philippine Embassy officials's meeting with Al-Athel, meanwhile, touched upon ways to enhance commercial relations between the two countries. The RCCI Secretary General welcomed the Embassy's efforts to reach out to the Saudi private sector, and pledged the Secretariat's support for future endeavors that strengthen cooperation between the chambers of commerce. Al-Athel, who regularly visits the Philippines with his family, cited the Filipino people's hospitality and the country's natural beauty. Tago noted that tourism statistics indeed indicate a consistent rise in visitors from Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines does not require a visa for Saudi nationals visiting the country for less than 21 days. An increase in bilateral trade has been noted between the two countries. Saudi Arabia ranked as the Philippines' 10th trading partner for January to October 2011.
