Clark exports surge 161% to $3.9B

Exports from Clark Freeport Zone surged by a record 161 percent to $3.912 billion last year, from the previous year’s $1.453 billion, owing to the hefty contribution of a US firm.

In a statement, Felipe Antonio B. Remollo, president of state-run Clark Development Corp., said that the entry of Texas Instruments in 2010 “has remarkably contributed” to the export industry of this bustling Freeport last year, posting $1.53 billion in exports.

Also, at least $124 million came from so-called “service exports” from the Freeport’s Information Communications Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (ICT-BPO).

According to Remollo, Clark’s export performance last year was equivalent to 8.1 percent of total Philippine exports estimated for 2011.

The other top-performing exporter-firms in Clark last year were identified as Nanox Philippines Inc., which contributed $791 million; Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corp., with exports of $566 million; Yokohama Tire Philippines Inc. (YTPI), $298 million; L&T International Group Philippines Inc., with $145 million; and SMK Electronics (Phils.) Corp., with export contribution of $98 million.

Remollo revealed that the electronics industry continued to be the top exporting sector of Clark Freeport last year, generating $3 billion worth of exports, followed by the tire industry with $298 million.

The garments sector churned out $227 million in exports; other manufacturing, $131 million; aviation-related, $13 million; and other sectors, $139 million.

Remollo also said that Clark’s employment statistics showed a significant 6 percent growth to 64,055 workers last year compared with the previous year’s 60,162.

“This is the highest level of employment generated at the Clark Freeport since the CDC’s inception in 1993,” Remollo said.

Remollo also announced that CDC management signed a total of 207 projects last year, with committed investments totaling P22.97 billion. That figure may translate to the employment of 8,206 workers.

Among the major investments signed last year were YTPI, which committed to infuse P14.62 billion worth of investments and a committed employment of 3,000 workers; Hae O Rum Development Corp. with an investment pledge of P1.58 billion and additional employment of 30; SPT (Phil) Clark Corp., with P285 million and 138 new jobs; Bonsure Everrich International, Inc., with a pledge of P192.7 million and 39 new jobs; and Jamco Philippines Inc. with a committed investment of P171 million that can generate 68 new jobs.

Other notable projects and accomplishments achieved last year by the state-run CDC include: United Asia Automotive Group Inc.’s $35-million investment for assembly lines for Foton vehicles; the estimated $50-million state-of-the-art Philippine Academy for Aviation Training of Cebu Pacific Air and the Canadian aviation training firm CAE.

Meanwhile, some P3 billion has also been allocated for infrastructure improvement at the Freeport.

Among the key projects that have been completed or still in the pipeline are the Clark-Mexico Transmission Line Project (Phase 3A and 3B); security improvements at Clark’s Main Gate Entry Control Facility; and initial drainage improvements.