Clark ecozone exports jump 49% in 1st 3 qtrs

Clark Development Corp. reported a 49-percent increase in exports of firms located at the Clark Special Economic Zone during the first three quarters of the year, from $233.899 million to $349.408 million.

CDC president Rogelio Singson said yesterday that the growth had been due to the strong performance of the electronics and garments sectors in the zone.

According to Singson, electronics exports of companies located at the CSEZ posted a phenomenal 87-percent growth, from $118 million over the same period last year to $220.5 million this year, mostly due to the increase in the export of high value-added electronic components.

Electronics, according to Singson, made up 63 percent of the CSEZ’s total exports. The bulk of this, he said was made up of products manufactured and exported by Sampo Technology (Phils.) Inc.

Singson said the Taiwan-based Sampo accounted for almost half of total exports for the first three quarters of the year. The company manufactures an average of 80,000 color computer monitors each month.

The garments sector accounted for the second largest share in exports with 27 percent. The sector was led by Lien Thai Philippines (LTP) Group, a pioneer locator of the CSEZ.

Singson said the LTP Group registered nearly P1.8 billion in exports or 11 percent of the year’s total. The group’s more than 2,300 workers, he said, manufacture popular lines of apparel for export such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.

After electronics and garments came tire exports which accounted for six percent of total output, worth $19.554 million, followed by furniture/craft/bags which accounted for two percent worth $6.879 million. Other exports accounted for the remaining two percent estimated to be worth $6.78 million.

Over the next five years, Singson said 269 locators are expected to put in about P72.6 billion in investments. Total investments for this year is expected to reach P11.62 billion.

CDC said that out of 269 firms inside the 4,400-hectare zone, 114 are involved in industrial projects, 61 in commercial projects, 58 in service-oriented projects, 13 in aviation-related projects, 11 in utilities, nine in tourism-related projects and three in housing.

Singson said these investors currently employ at least 21,000 workers and, with investments projected to hit P70 billion over the next five years, the total workforce is expected to reach 65,926. – Des Ferriols