2 IT firms choose Subic for their regional training hub

Two technology firms have decided to make the Subic Bay Freeport their regional training hub, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Felicito C. Payumo announced Friday.

He said Canadian-based CAE International and Wartsila Corp. have decided to make the Subic Bay Freeport their regional training center.

CAE International, Payumo said, is a world-class Canadian high-technology company engaged in commercial and military flight simulation and training, naval control systems and forestry process control.

CAE was founded in 1847 and employs over 5,000 skilled people in Canada, the US the United Kingdom, Australia and India. CAE’s income exceeds C$1 billion a year, according to Payumo. "CAE is evaluating the viability of making further investments in naval and commercial marine infrastructure for turnkey training and maintenance projects," Payumo said, adding that CAE officials have expressed their view that the Subic Bay Freeport has excellent potential infrastructure especially for future marine training and maintenance operations, not only for the Philippines but for the whole of Southeast Asia.

Wartsila Corp., on the other hand, with an investment of $2.6-million already has an established operations in the country.

The firm has decided to expand its operations in the Subic Freeport.

Wartsila, like CAE, is setting up a regional training center at the Subic Freeport. It is expected to infuse an additional $160,000 for its new regional training center.

Wartsila is a major supplier of solutions for decentralized power generation, ship power and marine propulsion, as well as support services.

Wartsila plans to train its personnel and customers from Korea, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Papua, New Guinea in its new training center in Subic.

Likewise, crew members from other shipping companies can also be trained in Wartsila’s new facility in the country.