Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver framed the country’s entry into the Pax Silica alliance as a turning point in Manila’s relationship with Abu Dhabi — one that elevates two longtime trade partners into what he described as strategic technology allies.
“PH’s accession in the Pax Silica alliance, where UAE is also a key party, further solidifies our bilateral trade and investment frameworks, such as the CEPA and the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA). This signifies that Philippines and the UAE are no longer just traditional trading partners; they are now strategic tech-allies,” Ver said.
His remarks came amid a series of high-level meetings in the UAE involving Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary and Board of Investments Managing Head Dr. Ceferino Rodolfo, who held separate talks with Masdar and DAMAC Digital to advance investment commitments tied to the planned 4,000-acre AI-native industrial acceleration hub in Luzon.
The Luzon hub, announced in connection with a US-led partnership under the Pax Silica initiative, requires substantial energy and digital infrastructure to support high-end AI processing and advanced manufacturing operations.
Rodolfo met with Masdar Chief Investment Officer Raphael Barreau to explore how the UAE-based renewable energy firm could supply power solutions for the facility. Masdar already has a presence in the Philippine energy sector through a signed memorandum of understanding with the BOI targeting up to 10 gigawatts of renewable energy projects by 2035. The company is also currently involved in powering Abu Dhabi’s Stargate UAE project, which draws on 5 gigawatts of renewables backed by a 19-gigawatt-hour battery energy storage system.
On the digital infrastructure side, Rodolfo met with DAMAC Digital Senior Vice President Troy Gilson to assess progress on a 250-megawatt data center facility in the Philippines. The project traces its origins to a meeting between DAMAC Chairman Hussain Sajwani and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Abu Dhabi in January 2026.
“The Luzon AI-native hub within the Pax Silica alliance integrates UAE’s renewable energy expertise and data center capabilities for the next-gen manufacturing,” Rodolfo said. “Our collaborations with industry leaders such as Masdar and DAMAC underscore our commitment to transform Philippines into a premier destination for AI-driven technologies and sustainable industrial acceleration.”
Rodolfo was in the region primarily for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Critical Minerals Forum and to visit Pax Silica member states. On the sidelines, he also held meetings with Tristar Group, iSON Xperiences, AIM Congress, and The Hub Trading LLC, focusing on leveraging the Philippines-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as a vehicle for expanding high-tech trade flows between the two countries.
