Japanese bicycle parts maker Shimano to put up plant in Batangas

Japanese bicycle parts manufacturer Shimano, Inc. will be building a manufacturing plant in Batangas, the top official of the Japanese Embassy said Tuesday.

"The latest firm that will expand to the Philippines is Shimano. They just announced it and they will be building high-end bicycles and producing bicycle components," said Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe told reporters on the sidelines of the Joint Membership Meeting of the Makati Business Club and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc.

On its website, the company said that its Singapore unit will establish a production plant on a 106,620-square meter site in the First Philippine Industrial Park in Tanauan City, Batangas.

Construction of the P1.5-billion plant has already begun and is estimated to be completed by July next year, the company added.

Shimano said that the plant will be set up to "enhance [the company's] production capabilities for the emerging market."

"Shimano will also be assembling bicycles for export, I think mostly for the BRIC nations [Brazil, Russia, India, China]. Also because there is increased demand in many regions," said Japanese Chamber of Commerce executive director Nobuo Fujii at the same event.

Shimano is expected to start manufacturing operations in the Philippines in December next year. — BM, GMA News