THE Philippines and Qatar expect to ratify an investment deal later this year following a meeting between the two countries' top trade officials.In a statement, the Trade Department said that Philippine Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Qatar's Commerce and Industry Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Qassim Al-Abdullah Al-Thani had met at the sidelines of an ongoing economic forum in the emirate.
Philippine officials were said to have expressed concern about the proliferation of counterfeit Filipino brands in the Middle East, including Qatar, and said that enhanced cooperation on IPR protection would address the concerns and 'create a more fair and secure environment.