According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data (1999-2007), a total of USD 2.69 million in net foreign direct investments (BOP Concept) entered the Philippines from Saudi Arabia between 2002 and 2007.

In March 2008, Saudi Arabia’s ARAMCO decided to sell its 40% stake in Petron Corporation to the London-based Ashmore investment group (after acquiring the same in 1993 as a result of efforts to privatize Philippine government corporations). The sale by ARAMCO pushed through since the Philippine Government, through PNOC, waived its right of First Offer.

In March 2007, Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), through a wholly-owned subsidiary, signed an agreement with Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) to jointly develop a 7,377 square meter property along Makati Avenue corner Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road) into a luxury hotel complex. The project comprises a 300-room Fairmont Hotel, a 30-suite Raffles Hotel and 189 Raffles-branded private residences. The total project cost is estimated at US$153 million (P7.4 billion).

In 2008, in the area of agri-foods, Saudi firm Abbar & Zainy - one of the biggest importers of Philippine bananas and a major business partner of the Lapanday Group in the Philippines - invested USD 30 million for the establishment of a cold storage facility in Davao; the Philippine firm is named Aztropex, Inc.

On Saudi investments in the Philippines, starting 2009, Saudi Arabia has also been interested in seeking agriculture opportunities in the Philippines for its food security program.

In 2012, there have been developments in KSA’s prospect to grow about 1.2 million tons of rice in the Philippines for the Saudi Arabian market in a joint venture between the two countries. Prospective joint ventures between PHL and KSA companies have the support of the Philippine government, which is aiming for rice sufficiency and exports by 2013.

Trade

Bilateral Merchandise Trade (FOB Value in US$ Thousand)

Source: BETP Tradelines based on NSO Statistics

In 2011, Saudi Arabia ranked 10^th as the Philippines' trading partner, 35^th as export market and 8^th as import supplier.

During the same period, Saudi Arabia both ranked 1^st as the Philippines' trading partner and import supplier, and ranked 2^nd as export market in the Middle East region.

Top exports in 2011 to Saudi Arabia consisted of:

• vWomen's wear manufactured from materials on consignment basis,
• vtransmission apparatus,
• vincorporating reception apparatus,
• vradio-broadcast receivers not capable of operating without an external source of power, combined with sound recording or reproducing apparatus,
• vpastas, whether or not prepared, and other sauces and preparations thereof, mixed condiments, mixed seasonings mustard flour meal and prepared mustard.

Major imports consisted of petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude, polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94, in primary forms, polypropylene, in primary forms, other polymers or ethylene in primary forms and bottle flask, jars, pots, phials and other containers.

From January - May 2012, Saudi Arabia ranked 9^th as the Philippines' trading partner, 40th as export market and 7^th as import supplier.

TOP PHILIPPINE EXPORTS TO SAUDI ARABIA (Value In US$ Thousand)

Source: BETP Tradelines based on NSO Statistics

TOP PHILIPPINE IMPORTS FROM SAUDI ARABIA (Value in US$ Thousand)

            Source: BETP Tradelines based on NSO Statistics

Trade Delegations to Saudi Arabia

vMindanao Trade and Investment Mission to KSA (Feb. 2007)

vPhilippine Construction Mission to the Middle East (April 2007)

vMega World Real Estate Selling Mission to KSA (August 2007)

vSelling Mission of CDC Holdings Company (June 2008)

vSelling Mission of Alsons Aquaculture Corp. (Nov. 2008)

vInternational Food Exhibition and Food Selling Mission (Nov. 2008)

vSelling Mission of RFM Corporation (24-Nov-01 Dec. 2008)

vRP Halal Food Selling Mission to Middle East (Apr. 20-26, 2009)

vDTI Outbound Mission and Halal Food Promotion (April 2009)

vOutbound Business Mission for Food to Bahrain (Nov. 6-8, 2009)

vRP Investment Mission to ME - Riyadh & Dammam (Nov. 16-18, 2009)

vSelling Mission of Ayala Land International Sales, Inc. (Feb. 2010)

vRFM Corp. Visit to Middle East (March 10-13, 2010)

vFood Selling Mission (25 Nov. - 2 Dec. 2011) 

Food Selling Mission to Riyadh, Eastern and Jeddah (March - April 2013)

  PR-096- 2013

PANIBAGONG ABISO TUNGKOL SA LOST PASSPORT SERVICES

PARA SA MGA “ABSCONDED” O TAKAS NA MANGGAGAWA

(RIYADH, ika-27 ng Mayo 2013) – Patuloy ang pag-conduct ng Embahada ng “Lost Passport” services sa consular field office nito sa International Philippine School of Riyadh (IPSR) para sa mga “absconded” o takas na manggagawa, kasama na rito ang mga nagtratrabaho sa employer na hindi nila orihinal na sponsor. 

Ang consular field office na ito sa IPSR ay bukas hanggang Martes, ika-4 ng Hunyo 2013 lamang.

Dahil sa napakaraming manggagawa na nais makakuha ng “lost passport” services, kinailangan ng Embahada na gawing salitan ang pag-asikaso ng mga babae at lalake, ayon sa sumusunod na schedule:

                  Lunes, 27 Mayo 2013              -        Mga lalaki lamang.

                  Martes, 28 Mayo 2013           -        Mga babae lamang.

                  Miyerkules, 29 Mayo 2013   -        Mga lalaki lamang.

                  Sabado, 1 Hunyo 2013           -        Mga babae lamang.

                  Linggo, 2 Hunyo 2013              -        Mga lalaki lamang.

                  Lunes, 3 Hunyo 2013               -        Mga babae lamang.

                  Martes, 4 Hunyo 2013            -        Mga lalaki lamang. 

Bukod dito, magsisimula na ng mas maaga ang consular field office para mas agarang matulungan ang mga manggagawang Pilipino na nais magpa-“lost passport.”  Ang bagong oras ng consular field office sa IPSR ay alas-9 ng umaga hanggang alas-5 ng hapon, araw-araw maliban sa Huwebes at Biernes.

Ganunpaman, 300 na aplikante lamang ang kayang asikasuhin ng Embahada sa bawat araw.

Pinapaalala ng Embahada ang mga requirements para sa “lost passport”: 

• Application Form (na libreng makukuha sa International Philippine School-Riyadh).
• Kopya ng nawalang pasaporte (o di kaya’y numero ng nawalang pasaporte kung ito’y inyong naaalala).
• Affidavit of Loss (na makukuha sa International Philippine School-Riyadh).
• Bayad: 

• SAR 460.00 kung ang nawalang passport ay green (MRP) o maroon (MRRP)
• SAR 700.00 kung ang nawalang passport ay maroon na may chip (e-Passport)

Hindi na kailangan ang “police report”  o “Jawazat report” para sa consular field office na ito.