MANILA – A French shipbuilding firm expressed its intent to construct a P1.5 billion shipyard in the country that may potentially create 600 jobs, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In a statement released on Wednesday, DTI said OCEA is one of the investment interests from France that the country has cornered during the 9th Philippine-France Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting last July 2. OCEA is a shipbuilding firm in northwest France.
During the economic meeting, three letters of intent confirming financial support of a training boat contract for the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy; and a possible maritime expert proposal were presented by the French minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Franck Riester.
Trade secretary Ramon Lopez also handed to the French minister the intent of the Bases Conversion Development Authority to partner with France for the next phase study of the Clark Fresh Food Hub and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ intent to renew aviation technical training programs.
A possible partnership between the country and France in sectors such as energy, film and animation, and agriculture was also discussed.
“This JEC meeting is a testament to how the Philippines and France are now rebuilding together, after global challenges faced during the early phase of the pandemic,” Lopez said.
The JEC with France is the country’s longest-running high-level economic dialogue with a European country.(PNA/PN)
