Oman and the Philippines Sign Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement for Diplomatic Passport Holders

Dubai: The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of the Philippines have signed a mutual visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports, Oman’s Foreign Ministry announced.

The agreement was formalized during an official meeting in Manila between Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Maria Theresa Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.

Expanding Bilateral Cooperation

Beyond the signing of the agreement, the ministers held in-depth discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors, including the economy, scientific collaboration, and other strategic fields. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and expressed their intent to finalize several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and pursue future agreements to deepen collaboration.

The two sides also agreed to organize the second Oman–Philippines Investment Forum, scheduled to take place in Muscat next year, with the aim of fostering sustainable and mutually beneficial economic partnerships.

Shared Regional Interests and Strategic Dialogue

On political and regional matters, the ministers exchanged views on developments of mutual concern, emphasizing the importance of ongoing cooperation in areas such as knowledge exchange, skills development, and enhanced engagement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Oman’s Humanitarian and Diplomatic Role Recognized

Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro extended appreciation for Oman’s humanitarian efforts in facilitating the recent release of sailors from the MV Galaxy Leader, who had been detained in Yemen. She also commended Oman’s fair treatment of Filipino workers and praised the country’s balanced and principled foreign policy under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.