The Philippines and Saudi Arabia will strike a deal for a possible expansion of partnership in the fields of renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and agriculture, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Friday.

This developed after Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, paid a courtesy call on Marcos at Malacañang Palace in Manila on Thursday.

Marcos, in a Facebook post, said he will bolster ties with Prince Faisal.

“It is part of our commitment to strengthen ties between our nations and to have joint cooperation in various fields such as green energy and digital infrastructure,” he said.

“We are eager to strengthen our ties and broaden our collaboration, particularly in green energy, digital infrastructure, and agriculture,” Marcos added.

Marcos also thanked Prince Faisal for the Saudi government’s appreciation and support for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East nation.

“We expressed our sincere gratitude for their government’s concern for the welfare of our overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Saudi Arabia tops the list of countries accommodating OFWs, with the Kingdom currently home to approximately 860,000 Filipino workers.

The two nations have already partnered on tackling labor mobility and human rights.

In May 2022, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, along with Bahrain, organized a conference on the sidelines of the International Migration Review Forum to discuss policy innovations and ways to ensure decent work for migrant workers.

The Philippines’ diplomatic relationship with Saudi Arabia was established in October 1969. (PNA)