First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos joined top officials from the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Government Experience Exchange Forum held in Makati City on September 17, 2025. The flagship program highlights the UAE’s commitment to share its best practices in governance, digital transformation, and public service innovation.
Also present were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Abdulla Nasser Lootah, UAE Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange, along with other dignitaries.
Bersamin described the gathering as more than a policy workshop, underscoring its symbolic value for both nations. “This retreat is not simply a workshop, but an investment in trust and partnership. It affirms that the Philippines and the UAE, though separated by geography, are bound by a common purpose to make government a true instrument of peace, prosperity and progress,” he said.
The forum spotlighted the UAE’s success in cutting business costs through streamlined digital processes, while exploring how artificial intelligence and future foresight could help improve citizen services. Philippine leaders, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of adapting these models to strengthen competitiveness and make governance more responsive to the people.
Bersamin closed with a hopeful note: “May this retreat deepen our friendship, showcase innovative solutions, and open doors to new initiatives that will benefit both our nations in the years ahead.”
