French shipbuilder eyes P1.5-B shipyard in PH

A French shipbuilder is interested to build a P1.5-billion shipyard in the Philippines, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

OCEA S.A., considered the French leader in aluminum shipbuilding, is interested to pursue the shipyard project, which could potentially create 500 to 600 direct and indirect jobs, the DTI said in a statement on Wednesday.

The company expressed its interest during the 9th Philippines-France Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting with the DTI on July 2.

“Through its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Roland Joassard, OCEA, a shipbuilding company in northwest France, formally expressed in the presence of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, and French Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Franck Riester, its intent to set up a shipyard in the country,” the DTI said.

Further details about the project were not disclosed, however. According to its official website, OCEA S.A. specializes in the design, building and support of aluminum vessels. The company has so far delivered more than 300 vessels.

The discussions during the JEC, a platform wherein the countries can talk about how to improve their trade and investment ties, also covered agriculture, civil aviation and aeronautics, the DTI said. INQ