UK firms keen on participating in PPP projects

UK-based companies have expressed strong interest in participating in the flagship public-private partnership (PPP) program of the Aquino administration.

Derek Page, director of the UK Trade and Investment in Manila, said British businesses were looking specifically at the LRT-MRT extension project under the Department of Transportation and Communications and the modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center under the Department of Health.

“These projects will undoubtedly involve some large Filipino companies, it is important for our (British firms) to get in touch with them and make our business capabilities known to them.” Page said in a statement issued Sunday.

Other British companies, meanwhile, aired their interest in assisting the Philippines by sharing their technical expertise in the implementation of the PPP projects, in support of the country’s economic development.

UK Minister of State Jeremy Browne highlighted UK’s extensive experience in public-private partnership projects in transport, health and education sectors, and financial/legal services.

“We are in the business of trying to make sure that we offer solutions and we bring expertise in a way that brings great social benefit and progress to the Philippines,” Browne said.

These British companies, which attended the recent UK Infrastructure Investment Mission, are currently involved in infrastructure, engineering and design, technical consultancy and project operations management.

In a briefing, the various PPP projects were presented to the delegates.

In the same event, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo told delegates that the “Philippines is ready and open for business.”

Among the investment opportunities he had offered were those in the areas of tourism, infrastructure and information technology.

Domingo added that the country was looking forward to a strategic relationship with United Kingdom in terms of investments.

It was only last year that the government launched the PPP program, with 10 big-ticket infrastructure projects lined up as priority projects.