Turkish firms eye Poro Pt, Clark, BGC

MANILA, Philippines - Turkish businesses have expressed interested in putting up operations in the Clark Freeport Zone, Poro Point Freeport Zone and Bonifacio Global City, according to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

In a phone interview, BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano Cassanova said Turkish businesses are considering the Philippines as a base in the Asia Pacific region for the production and distribution of construction materials and furniture among other products.

Other areas of interest include healthcare, education, food and medicine.

Turkish businesses are currently expanding their operations outside of their traditional markets of European Union, Middle East and Africa.

Making the Philippines their production and distribution base will enable them to expand their reach to the rest of Southeast Asia.

“Turkey is looking for a base here in Asia Pacific,” Cassanova. “They’ve chosen the Philippines because of its strategic location, human resource, and confidence in good governance.

The BCDA has signed with the Turkish Confederation of Businessman and Industrialists (TUSKON) — one the biggest business confederations in the world — a cooperation agreement which is expected to pave the way for investments in production and distribution in the country.

TUSKON is an umbrella organization for 162 business associations in Turkey and has a net worth of $750 billion.

The agreement gives opportunity to 32,000 businesses based in Turkey to explore investment possibilities in the Philippines.

The pact also provides for educational exchanges between the Philippines and Turkey by welcoming delegations of students between the two countries.

Turkey is set to become the 15th largest economy in the world within the next five years and is currently the 6th largest economy among the 27 European Union countries.

Cassanova said Turkish businesses are considering the Clark Freeport Zone as a destination for their production and distribution activities. 

They are also observing the shipping operations at Poro Point Free Port because they are considering it as a shipping point.

The Poro Point Freeport Zone, which is located at Poro Point, San Fernando City, La Union, provides easy access to thriving economies in Southeast Asia. It is only 1.5 hours away from Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Taipei; 3.5 hours away from Japan, Singapore, and Korea; and four hours away from Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Turkish businesses are also interested in putting up international schools in Bonifacio Global City.

Cassanova said the BCDA has set a meeting with the Turkish Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on Friday to discuss the implementing rules and regulations for the agreement.

Next, month, a delegation from Turkey is arriving in the Philippines to discuss the terms of the agreement.

Cassanova said Turkish businesses are also interested in Camp John Hay but as he previously said, it would not be put up for bidding until the case with its former lessee, Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevco) is resolved.

“We are still concerned on having CJHDEvco vacate the property,” he said. “We want to resolve it first.”