Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) builds stronger international partnerships to boost Philippine exports, particularly to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This was emphasized during a meeting on November 9 between DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque and representatives from Lulu Group International, a leading multinational conglomerate with a strong presence in both the UAE and the Philippines.

In the meeting, Secretary Roque highlighted the country’s growing economic role in the region and the strong demand for Philippine products, emphasizing the potential for expanding Philippine exports to the UAE. She also expressed gratitude to Lulu for their continued support in showcasing and promoting Philippine products, especially those from small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“As part of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ vision, we are committed to driving the country’s economic growth by expanding trade relations with global partners like Lulu Group International. We believe there is strong potential for growth in Philippine exports to the UAE, and we are confident that Lulu Group International can play a key role in achieving this,” said Secretary Roque.

Further solidifying their commitment to Philippine products, Lulu representatives announced their intention to increase their procurement of SME products. To formalize this partnership, both parties agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding or agreement, outlining their commitment to expanding trade and investment between the Philippines and the UAE.

Lulu Group International operates 258 stores across the UAE and has already established a state-of-the-art logistics and export center in Laguna. This facility sources, stores, packs, and exports fruit, vegetables, and other commodities to Lulu hypermarkets across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Egypt. 

“The DTI is pleased to partner with Lulu Group International in promoting trade and investment between the Philippines and the UAE. We believe that the Philippines has a lot to offer the UAE market, and we are committed to working with Lulu Group International to source more products from the Philippines, particularly from our thriving SME sector,” Secretary Roque added.

Secretary Roque was accompanied by Special Envoy Kathryna Pimentel, Special Envoy Karen Santos, Consul General Arvic Arevalo, Vice Consul Regatta Antonio-Escutin, and Trade Commissioner Vichael Roaring. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director Saifee Rupawala, Chief Operating & Strategy Officer/Executive Director Saleem VI, Director-Global Operations Shabu Abdul Majeed, and FMCG Imports Nissam Abdul represented Lulu Group International. Lulu Group International’s business portfolio includes hypermarket operations, mall development, manufacturing and trading of goods, hospitality assets, education, information technology, shipping, and real estate. Lulu Group International has a strong presence in the Middle East, Asia, the United States, and Europe. ♦

Date of release: 30 November 2024

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