Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez has committed to help the Hinduja Group of Companies find a local partner for their plan to manufacture buses for the Philippines government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program, should they decide on a partnership model for the business venture.
In a meeting with DTI recently, Hinduja Group (Europe) Chairman Prakash P. Hinduja was assured of this support.
Hinduja Group is one of the largest diversified groups in the world, with investments in automotive, oil and gas, real estate, power, healthcare, trading, information technology, media, banking and finance.
The group is present in the country through its subsidiary, Hinduja Global Solutions Philippines, an IT-BPO company with around 9,000 employees in its 11 sites located in Quezon City, Muntinlupa City, and Iloilo City.
“DOTr needs over 100,000 vehicles for the modernization program.”
Hinduja said he previously met with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and relayed that the agency needs over 100,000 vehicles for the modernization program.
“This is in line with DTI’s plan to boost Philippine manufacturing to create jobs.”
Aside from buses, Lopez also urged the company to manufacture modern jeepneys and electric vehicles in the country.
The trade chief said this is in line with DTI’s plan to boost Philippine manufacturing to create jobs, answer domestic and export demand, and lessen the country’s dependence on imported products.
Hinduja Group would explore the suggestions of DTI for this opportunity and see if progress can coincide with the upcoming visit of Indian President Shri Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to the Philippines.
Also at the meeting were BOI-International Investments Promotion Service Asia Division Head Jean Traballo, Hinduja Group Resident Director for Corporate Affairs Ajit Kumar, Hinduja Global Solutions Philippines President and CEO Pushkar Misra, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Philippines (FICCI) President Rex Daryanani, and DTI Assistant Secretary Angelo Taningco.