Dubai-based logistics firm DP World has expressed interest to establish an industrial park at Clarkfield in Pampanga province, Malacanang announced on 19th January 2022.
This developed after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with the executives of DP World on the side-lines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on 18th January (Zurich time), Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.
"Logistics Company DP World on 18th January committed to expanding its operations in the Philippines and eyes to set up an industrial park in Clarkfield in Pampanga, following a meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.," Garafil said.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairperson and chief executive officer of DP World, told Marcos during the meeting that the logistics company has been developing industrial parks in multiple nations and has successful ventures in Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates.
DP World also develops industrial parks in Senegal, Egypt, India and Pakistan.
“We are committed to investing in the Philippines; we’re committed to expand,” Bin Sulayem, as quoted by the PCO, said. “So we’re interested in the Philippines, in industrial parks.”
Marcos, in response, said the Philippine government has to decide on possible 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,” Marcos said, expressing his administration's openness to public-private partnerships for infrastructure development.
Since its inception in year 1972 as a local port operator in Dubai, DP World has transformed into a global logistics provider in over 69 countries and across every continent.
To date, DP World now moves 10% of the global trade through seamless, interconnected global network of ports and terminals, economic and free zones, logistics hubs and marine services.
With 90% of the transportation coming by the sea in the Philippines, Bin Sulayem said DP World can add value to the supply chain, with sea transportation being the cheapest means of moving cargo.