30 October 2012, The US Asian Post
MANILA, Oct 27 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III said his six-day visit to New Zealand and Australia yielded new investments and job opportunities for Filipinos for the benefit of the country’s economy as a whole.
In his arrival message, President Aquino said he talked to New Zealand’s GNS Science, which is tieing up with the Philippines’s Energy Development Corp. to enhance the country’s capability in harnessing geothermal energy.
The President said he and the members of his delegation also assisted the Philippine company Alliance Select in talking to Akaroa Salmon, a New Zealand company. Alliance Select bought 80 percent of Akaroa Salmon.
In Australia, the Atlantic Gulf & Pacific, located in Batangas talked with its client, the consortium composed of Japan Gas Corp., Kellogg Brown and Root and JKC.
They have discussed a $200 million natural gas project, in which the Australians expressed their confidence that Filipinos can do the critical aspects of their operations in a timely manner, the President said.
The contract between AG&P and JKC will create additional 1,500 new jobs at AG&P’s facility in Batangas, he added.
Macquarie bank based in Australia also had a discussion with his delegation, the President said. Macquarie is working with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to create the Pinai fund worth $625 million.
According to the President, the fund will be used to bid for infrastructure projects in the Philippines noting that Macquarie already bidded in the LRT project in the past. Now it is expressing interest in the NAIA expressway project.
The President also said that the Australian shipbuilder, Austal also plans to expand its shipbuilding operations in Cebu, which will create 1,000 new jobs.
Already having 10,000 employees in the Philippines, Telstra, another Australian company, is planning to expand operations in the country, If the project pushes through, the expansion will result to additional 2,000 to 4,000 new jobs in the Philippines, the President stressed.
The President said he also talked with the leaders of New Zealand and Australia, where he met with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and the head of New Zealand opposition parliament member, David Shearer and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and parliament member Tony Abbott, the head of Australia’s opposition.
“Sa mga usapan nilinaw natin sa kanila ang pangangailangan ng istabilidad sa rehiyon upang magpatuloy ang pag-arangkada ng ating mga ekonomiya. Kinausap din natin sila ukol sa ugnayan sa kalakalan at sa masiglang pakikihalubilo ng mga mamamayan,” he said.
The President said the Australian officials congratulated the Philippine government for signing a peace deal with the Muslim separatists in Mindanao. In turn, he also thanked the Australian government for its continuing assistance for Mindanao’s development.
The President also said that Australia and the Philippines signed an air services agreement that will help enhance the commercial airline services in the Philippines.
He noted that The Philippines and New Zealand likewise sealed several agreements that will strengthen their ties particularly in energy and defense cooperation.
In concluding his message, the President expressed his gratitude to the members of his Cabinet as well as the country’s business delegation who joined him in the successful New Zealand and Australia visits. (MNS)
