BOI to roll out road map for aerospace, EV industries

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Investments (BOI) will launch this week a road map detailing its strategies to promote investments in the aerospace and electric vehicle (EV) industries.

BOI director for industrial policy department Corazon Halili-Dichosa told reporters the road maps of the aerospace and EV industries would be unveiled on July 24.

The aerospace road map was prepared by  the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP) while that for the EV industry was crafted by the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP).

Dichosa said the launch of the road map is an opportune time for the aerospace industry since the AIAP has just been organized.

“During the launch, strategies will also be presented on how to grow the (aerospace) industry because they can see that there is potential,” she said.

Just like other industries, the aerospace industry is also seeking support from the government.

“They are not really asking for special incentives. It’s just support from government not necessarily on the fiscal side,” Dichosa said noting that the aerospace industry needs government support in terms of marketing andpromotion as well as capacity-building.

Earlier, Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo, Jr. said the DTI is actively promoting the country as a destination for investments in the aerospace industry to take advantage of the growing air traffic in the Asia Pacific region.

Among the aerospace firms which are present in the country are Moog Controls Corp., manufacturer of precision control products for aircraft which has a facility in Baguio and  B/E Aerospace, provider of interior products and solutions for aircraft markets with operations in Batangas.

Firms which have maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in the country are Lufthansa Technik with its main facility located in the special economic zone within the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and SIA Engineering Co. which has a facility located in the vicinity of Clark’s Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

As for the EV industry, Dichosa said the support needed is in terms of infrastructure like charging stations.

“We have been supporting them because we have been listing charging stations in the IPP (Investment Priorities Plan) for the past two or three years,” she said.

EVAP president Rommel Juan said earlier infrastructure and technology aswell as incentives would be needed to promote EVs into the mainstream.

The industry road map initiative was launched by the DTI  in 2012 to pushfor the growth of specific industries and the entire manufacturing sector.