Phl to woo BPM, manufacturing companies from US, Europe

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government will seek investments in the infrastructure, aerospace, information technology – business process management (IT-BPM) and manufacturing sectors during the visit of President Aquino to Europe and the US later this month.

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Bamboo 2014 Showcase opening ceremony yesterday, government would push for investments in the infrastructure sector, particularly projects under the flagship Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program during the trip of the President to  Europe and the US this month.

 “There is emphasis on infrastructure because there are big requirements in infrastructure here,” he said.

The government is promoting the PPP projects overseas on the suggestion of the PPP Center.

Domingo said the government hopes to attract investors and construction firms to participate in the country’s PPP projects.

 “We will be selling the projects in the pipeline,” he added.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao has said the government would roll out 18 major infrastructure projects worth P602.2 billion under the PPP program before June next year.

So far, the government has awarded seven PPP projects worth close to P68 billion such as Daang Hari – South Luzon expressway link road (P2 billion), PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) Phase 1 (P8.86 billion), the PSIP Phase 2 (P16.28 billion), the modernization project for the Philippine Orthopedic Center (P5.98 billion), the Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway (P15.52 billion), the automated fare collection system project (P1.72 billion), and the Mactan – Cebu international airport expansion project (P17.5 billion).

Aside from PPP projects, Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo, Jr. said government also wants to attract investments in priority areas such as aerospace, IT-BPM and manufacturing.

Domingo and Manalo are joining Aquino’s trip beginning Sept. 13.

The officials would join the trip to Belgium, France, Germany and Spain as well as the US.

The government wants to attract more investments in the country to achieve economic growth and create jobs.