ZURICH, Switzerland — Dubai-based Logistics company DP World has committed to expanding its operations in the Philippines and eyes setting up an industrial park in Clarkfield in Pampanga, Malacañang said.
Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said this development occurred during the meeting between President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and DP World group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
"We are committed to investing in the Philippines; we're committed to expanding," Bin Sulayem said.
"We're interested in the Philippines, in industrial parks," he added.
According to the official, the Emirati firm has been developing industrial parks in multiple nations and has successful ventures in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
The company also develops industrial parks in Senegal, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and a Philippine expansion is a welcome development. DP World currently operates four terminals in the Philippines including a partnership with sian Terminals, the operator of South Harbor in Manila.
With 90 percent of the transportation coming via sea in the Philippines, Bin Sulayem said DP World could add value to the supply chain, with sea transportation being the cheapest means of moving cargo.
In response, President Marcos said the government has to decide on possible new sites in terms of operations, planning, and ideal location to spur local development.
"And if it's viable and those areas are actually useful for your operation, then that would be something that we can immediately develop," he said, adding his government is more amenable to public-private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure development.
According to Marcos, he has been meeting business leaders in Switzerland to know their views on what the government can do in terms of policy, legislation, and rules to make the country more conducive for business.
"We always come up against the issues of the ease of doing business. These are things that we are already slowly improving," he said.
"I say 'slow' because it's never fast enough, but at least I think we can already see some progress on that," he acknowledged.
Starting in 1972 as a local port operator in Dubai, DP World has transformed into a global logistics provider in over 69 countries and every continent.
It now moves 10 percent of global trade through a seamless, interconnected global network of ports and terminals, economic and free zones, logistics hubs, and marine services.