Music Room, Malacañan Palace
13 October 2015

President Benigno S. Aquino III received H.E. Jassim Ali Al Obaidli, Ambassador of Qatar to the Philippines, in a farewell call at Malacañan Palace.

Also present during the call were Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Acting Secretary Linglingay Lacanlale, Office of Middle East and African Affairs Executive Director Hjayceelyn Quintana, and Embassy of Qatar Second Secretary Abdulla Ali Al Kubaisi.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Qatar were established on 5 May 1981. In 1994, the Qatari government opened an Embassy in Manila. Qatar is the third largest destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) – an estimated 250,000 OFWs or almost 17% of Qatar’s 1.5 million population live and work in the country. They are employed in construction, tourism, information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banks, and as domestic helpers. There are also 44 Filipino organizations in Doha, the country’s capital.

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