Press Release
31 October 2012
French businessmen, specifically French global companies RATP Dev and Thales, expressed interest to participate in the bidding of projects under the country’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program. RAPT Dev is a multimodal operator with expertise on the operations and maintenance of land transportation namely light rails, buses, metros among others. Thales is a French multinational company that designs and builds electrical systems for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets.
A Philippine-French Business Forum was conducted as part of the 3-day official visit of French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to the Philippines. The French delegation was composed of a 130-member delegation made up of ministers, parliamentarians and businessmen. During the Forum some 300 French and Filipino business leaders were briefed on the economic activities and investment opportunities that abound under the Aquino Administration. Public-Private Partnership Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao presented the country’s PPP program, highlighting significant business prospects in big-ticket infrastructure projects lined up for roll out this year.
“Our PPP program drew much interest from the French businessmen. They are specifically looking at our roads and rail projects,” the PPP Center chief shared. “We presented the entire line-up of PPP pipeline projects and got a good response from encouraged parties,” Executive Director Canilao added. The PPP Center is the agency tasked to coordinate and facilitate the country’s PPP program, in close coordination with the various implementing agencies.
The business delegation is a mix of global players from the energy, aviation, aeronautics, transportation, infrastructure, electronics, health care and the environment.
The visit of French Prime Minister Ayrault’s is a first from a top French leader ever since the country established its diplomatic ties with France some 65 years ago.
