DTI open to creation of China industrial ecozones

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry is amenable to the creation of a potential China industrial economic zone in the country as part of government’s effort to strengthen relations with China.

“Definitely there are many areas of cooperation, including the establishment of industrial economic zones. That’s on the table,” Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said yesterday.

Rodolfo said a China industrial economic zone would likely require some 300 hectares of land and would open up plenty of job and investment opportunities for Filipinos.

“Under the models they’ve had in other countries, they will develop it and they will also be the ones to get investors, but not limited to Chinese investors. The land, of course, will be ours and of course that would create jobs so we want that. That is a big thing for us especially if they will be the ones spending the bigger part,” he said.

Rodolfo said the plan is expected be threshed out in a joint committee on economic and trade cooperation meeting scheduled early next year.

President Duterte’s state visit to China last month led to the signing of several agreements covering a wide range of areas such as trade, tourism, agriculture, security, health, and infrastructure.