European helicopter maker open to set up Philippine assembly plant

Airbus Helicopters Philippines Inc. is open to the possibility of building a helicopter assembly plant in the Philippines.

"We are open to putting up an assembly plant here," Airbus Helicopters Philippines managing director Lionel de Maupeou told reporters on the sideline of a roundtable discussion in Pasay City on Wednesday.

"We have been here for 20 years. We know how to do it and we are ready to do that," Maupeou said.

Setting up an assembly plant in the Philippines would depend on the requirement of the government, Airbus Helicopters senior governmental service sales manager Yves Poesy said.

"If that is a requirement of the Philippine government and if there is a need for a big quantity. We are open to discussions," Poesy noted.

"Because you don't set up an assembly facility if there are few helicopters. We have been doing that in some other countries, but it really depends on the quantity requirements," Poesy added.

Maupeou said critical mass in terms of orders is needed. "We are ready to do that but we need some assurance behind," he said.

"We are not reaching this stage yet, but we are open to it," Maupeou added. — VDS, GMA News