Ecozone exports up 19% to $14.4 B in 1st 8 mos

The country’s special economic zones generated some $14.358 billion worth of exports during the first eight months of the year, 19.29 percent higher than the $11.562 billion recorded over the same period last year. Data from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) reveal that Laguna Technopark Inc. continues to be the biggest export-generating zone, recording a total of $3.339 billion worth of exports from January to September this year.

LTI is host to the country’s top three electronic exporters, Amkor Anam and Toshiba Information Equipment Phils. Inc., contributing the bulk of the zone’s exports which increased by 22.14 percent during the period.

On the whole, PEZA said the strong performance of the export processing zones was due to the continued expansion of the country’s semiconductor and electronic microcircuits production and export.

PEZA reported that LTI was followed by Baguio City Economic Zone, led by its prime locator, Texas Instruments. BCEZ exported $2.127 billion, followed by Cavite Economic Zone which exported $1.483 billion.

The fourth best performer was Carmelray Industrial Park which exported $1.317 billion worth of products mostly from Japan’s Fujitsu Computer Products Corp. Gateway Business part was fifth with $1.207 billion. Among the public ecozones, PEZA said Mactan Economic Zone generated $1.217 billion worth of exports, led by its strongest locator, Fairchild Semiconductor.

Gateway Special Economic Zone in General Trias, Cavite generated some $1.207 billion. Gateway is host to Intel Technology, one of the top electronics exports in the country, as well as Cypress Semiconductor Phils.

PEZA’s performance is expected to improve further as it approved the registration of the Japanese-owned Rohm Apollo Semiconductor Phils. (Rohm) which is planning to locate its plant at the People’s Technology Complex in Carmona, Cavite.

PEZA documents show that Rohm is planning to engage in the manufacture of semiconductor products such as microchip transistors and tantalium capacitors.

PEZA said Rohm is leasing a 26,900-square meter portion of the People’s Complex which has just keen approved for conversion into a special economic zone on the recommendation of the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC).

Rohm’s parent company, Apollo Electronics Co. Ltd., is part of the global Rohm Group centered around the total electronics manufacturer. Rohm Co. Ltd. Apollo produces transistors, resistors, capacitors and other electronic components which are distributed worldwide by Rohm’s global network.

Rohm said it expects to be in commercial operation by March 2001. Earlier, the PEZA reported that investments increased by P10.427 billion, soaring to P55.427 billion for the first seven months of the year and surpassing its 2000 whole-year target.

According to PEZA, the country’s economic zones generated these investments from new export enterprises, new infotech enterprises, expansion projects in utilities and warehouses.

Expansion projects of existing enterprises accounted for the bulk of locator investments amounting to P70 billion during the first nine months of the year.