Ambassador’s visits to Qatar and Dubai “Hundred Hopes and a Little Realism”

President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo led her official delegation in a three-day official visit to Doha, Qatar on December 13 – 16, 2009. Amb and Mrs. Francisco A. Alba were among the businessmen who were invited to meet with the officials of the State of Qatar to strengthen diplomatic ties and Middle East businessmen invited to invest in the Philippines. Pres. Arroyo also met Philippine ambassadors to Middle East countries to discuss the impact of the global economic crisis on the long-term prospects of Filipino job placements abroad. In a story headlined “Hundred Hopes and a Little Realism,” the Qatar Tribune published interviews of prominent Filipino personalities living in the State of Qatar about the relevance and impact of Pres. Arroyo’s three-day visit to Qatar. They expressed hope that problems faced by Filipinos in Doha could be addressed by the government in the near term. The meeting of Qatar employers took place at the Sheraton Doha Hotel and Resort where the delegation stayed during their visit. Earlier, Amb. Alba and Amb. Abadulla Ahmed Al-Mutawaa, Ambassador of Qatarmet regarding the formation of a Philippine-Qatar Business Council to help promote trade and investment between the two countries. Several businessmen and professionals representing local companies attended the initial meeting held at Serendra, Global City prior to the State visit to Qatar. Dubai Exclusive Gathering of CEOs Akean Resorts Corporation Chairman Amb. Francisco A. Alba officially participated in the GRI Middle East Chairman’s Retreat 2008 in Dubai last November 17-18 2009. By invitation only, this gathering is reserved for the top real estate Chief Executive Officers of leading investors, developers or lenders as well as government investors. The exclusive gathering is held annually by the Global Real Estate Institute (GRI) and the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Banking to build relationships among real estate businessmen at the most senior levels from across the world. The Philippines were represented by Amb. Francisco A. Alba as Chairman of Akean Resorts Corporation and businessman Fernando Zobel de Ayala of the Ayala Group.