Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said that for the Philippines to be a production hub of electric vehicle (EV) in the future, government should work on a special program that will attract investors in the different stages of the value chain in the EV industry. The special program can also boost the bilateral trade and investments between the country and South Korea.
“We are studying what other support we can provide to the e-vehicle industry. A special program that will quickly attract foreign and local investors in this industry of the future, if it is to compete with other countries with respect to becoming a preferred location for e-vehicle production,” shared Lopez to officials from Republic of Korea Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE), Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), as well as South Korean companies during the Korea-ASEAN FTA Support Center Grand Opening Ceremony recently.
“We are studying what other support we can provide to the e-vehicle industry.”
The initiative came after the recent meeting of the DTI chief with the International Electric Vehicle Association and other companies in the EV industry in South Korea.
The group was encouraging the Philippines to provide additional support to attract more investors in the EV and parts industry, aside from the usual fiscal incentives.
The association also suggested that aside from the usual tax holidays, there’s a need for performance-based, time-bound incentives, and demand creating incentives from other private groups like free parking or discounted toll fares to jumpstart this new industry, just like what are offered in South Korea and other ASEAN Member States.
“There’s a need for other incentives from private groups to jumpstart this new industry.”
“We see so much potential and opportunities in our e-vehicle industry that can be further strengthened with our deepening bilateral relationship with a manufacturing powerhouse like South Korea,” said Lopez.
Meanwhile, Lopez lauded MOTIE for opening the Manila Support Center to promote trade between the Philippines and South Korea and for assisting businesses in maximizing the gains of the future Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The KOTRA Manila FTA Support Center is the fourth support center to be opened in the ASEAN region. It will offer services such as FTA seminars, consultations on trade procedure, tax, tariff and legal advice, assistance for grievance resolution, as well as public relation activities.
Last June 3, the Philippines and South Korea launched negotiations for an FTA, which is eyed to be completed by September this year, in time for the signing on November by the leaders of the two countries.