German firms eye investments in PHL — DTI chief 

German companies are planning to expand their businesses in the Philippines particularly in the fields construction and information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

"In the construction sector, 'yung Siemens Technologies wants to be involved sa infrastructure program ng government," Lopez told GMA News Online on the sidelines of HR Construction Forum in Makati City on Wednesday.

Siemens - a building technology solutions provider - aims to explore a possible partnership with the government's smart cities and transportation projects, the Cabinet official said.

"Sila ang may capacity e, so probably they might be part of a consortium that would be participating in the infrastructure program," he added.

Lopez also said KnaufGips, one of the largest manufacturers of gypsum board in the world, is planning to establish an office in Batangas.

"I remember that mga $60 million ang investment as a start in a three to four hectares property in Calaca, Batangas," he said.

"So they will be assisted by the Board of Investments and the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) in all their requirements so we can facilitate the flow of investments," he added.

In the IT-BPO sector, Lopez said other German firms expressed interest to expand in the country.

He said Fresenius Medical Care, which already established its presence in shared services in the Philippines in 2015, is targeting to expand its shared services operation in the country.

"They have identified the Philippines as their shared services center or 'yung kanilang IT-BPO operations," he said.

"When you say shared services center, they will consolidate their human resources, procurement, accounting, IT services here," he added.

Aside from expanding its shared services, Lopez said that Fresenius is also planning to grow its network of dialysis treatment clinics in the country from 21 to 37 within the next three years.

The Trade chief added that Boehringer Ingelheim - the third-largest multinational company in the Philippines - also intends to expand its shared service business in the country.

Lopez said Boehringer has chosen the Philippines to locate its new service center that will cater to its Asia-Pacific market in addition to its two service locations in Ingelheim, Germany which serves its European Union market and in Buenos Aires, Argentina that caters for its South American market.

"They selected the Philippines kasi competency area natin ang ating workforce," he said.

"Others are Merck and Bosch, they would expand their shared service centers in the country," he added.

Lopez said German cars manufacturer BMW is intending to source more auto parts in the Philippines.

"We are a growing auto parts manufacturing sector e... So they are scouting local auto parts manufacturers that can export to their plants in Thailand and Vietnam," he said. — BAP, GMA News