Byline: BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

The Philippines will pursue stronger bilateral trade and economic relations with petro-dollar rich Qatar through the Qatar Investments Authority in the areas of power, tourism, mining and infrastructure projects with the planned state visit of President

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila said that Qatar Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, were supposed to meet with Arroyo at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Zurich, Switzerland in January this year but it did not push through due to scheduling problems.

"The Emir in Davos wants to have bilateral talks with president Arroyo but their schedules did not permit," he said.

Favila said the Emir instead extended an invitation for Arroyo's visit, which was originally scheduled mid of this month. Earlier, Favila also said that during this foreign trip, Arroyo would also drop by Dakar, Senegal in western Africa, but this time he said the trip would be confined in Doha.

"We should capitalize on the interest by the Qatar Investment Authority to invest in the Philippines," he said.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the State of Qatar have existed since May 5, 1981.

The last visit made by a Philippine president was by President Fidel V. Ramos wherein four important agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed, namely: Agreement on Economic, Commercial, and Technical Cooperation; Agreement Concerning Filipino Manpower; MOU for the Establishment of Joint Ministerial Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines and the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the Resumption of Air Services Agreement.

Both countries are also pursuing the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Investment Agreement.

Favila said that Qatar Investment Authority is among the investment authorities in the Gulf region including Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Dubai that have expressed investment interests in the Philippines.

After the WEF meeting in Davos, Arroyo went to Dubai.

Already, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator Armand C. Arreza said that Dubai-based Jafza International, the global economic zone operations arm of Economic Zones World, has identified the sprawling 55hectare Boton wharf, which houses the importers and auctioneers of used motor vehicles, in Subic Freeport as site for a planned $ 250 million logistics center project.

Arreza said the Boton area is the ideal place for logistical operations.

There were four areas that have been considered for Jafza's logistics center project including the Industrial Technopark, Boton Wharf, Subic International Airport and the residential Cubi area.

Arreza said that Dubai Autozone, one of Jafza's subsidiaries, may also operate a trading for used motor vehicles for reexport. Dubai Autozone is the largest second hand auto trading for Africa and Middle East.

"Jafza officials are coming over either in February or March this year," he said.

According to Arreza the affected 51 auctioneers and importers of used motor vehicles may be relocated to a place along the ClarkSubic expressway where they could be compensated for their investments and improvements made in their location inside the Freeport.

"We can compensate them for improvements or push for expropriation proceedings," he said. Most of the auctioneers have 25year long-term leases with SBMA and have been paying rentals of R30 per square meter. The going rental rate in the Freeport is $ 1.25 per square meter.

Arreza said that SBMA would also grant incentives to the auctioneers in their new location because of the expanded coverage of the Freeport under Executive Order 675.

The auctioneers, he said, would be able to save on cost by bringing to their new location their imported cars, do the conversion there and conduct their auctions there instead of maintaining huge yards inside the Freeport.

Jafza International signed an agreement with SBMA for the development and regeneration of Subic during the official visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Philippines to the UAE.

Salma Hareb, CEO Jafza and Economic Zones World signed the MOU with Arreza for an estimated total project investment of $ 200 million to $ 250 million over 3-5 years.