CEBU CITY—Bosch, a global supplier of technology and services, has opened its Visayas hub in Cebu, its first foray outside of Metro Manila.
The decision was brought on by the rapid growth of the Cebu market, along with the rosy prospects in the city’s construction and real estate sector.
“Over the last decade, the Philippines has proven its mettle in the business arena: the boom in construction, the highly competitive automotive industry, the sunshine industry of BPOs [business process outsourcing] and most recently, an investment grade rating,” said Martin Hayes, president of Bosch Southeast Asia.
The company entered the Philippine market in 1928 through Cebu, starting with the distribution of automotive parts.
Hayes said Southeast Asia, which include the Philippines, is currently the fastest growing region for Bosch. The Philippine market holds great potential for the company to expand its operations, he added.
Bosch’s Visayas hub is located in Mandaue City—home to Cebu’s factories, most of which are engage in brewery, furniture-making and dried fruit processing.
“We have already captured our clientele, but our representative office here will allow us to expand our customer base further and better serve our current and future customers. The Queen City of the South [Cebu] is a viable investment destination for foreign businesses and was the best choice for our expansion. A bigger presence in Cebu enables us to better serve the Visayan region with our diverse range of products and solutions across industries,” explained Hayes.
In a statement, Bosch Philippines managing director Joseph Hong said the company sees positive prospects in Cebu’s thriving construction industry, as the local demand for commercial and housing units increase. These include hotels, commercial and residential buildings.
Bosch power tools are featured in 13 showrooms throughout Cebu. The company continues to be bullish about the province’s automotive industry as domestic demand for products remain high, as indicated by a Department of Trade and Industry study.
Bosch also established a car service and diesel service workshops in Cebu, offering professional diagnosis, maintenance and repair service for gasoline and diesel vehicle models.
Apart from the Philippines, Bosch also firmed up its presence in Thailand and Myanmar.