Yuchengco-controlled EEI sets sights on Kazakhstan, Africa

Yuchengco-controlled construction firm EEI Corp. is exploring opportunities in Kazakhstan and Africa in line with efforts to further boost its profitability.

EEI president and chief executive officer Roberto Jose Castillo said the company is positioned to take advantage of the opportunities across the broad sectors of the construction industry in light of its construction capability and its well-deserved reputation in delivering on-time and cost-effective construction work.

Castillo said the company expects to perform better this year given its growing number of projects both here and abroad.

Last year, EEI posted a net income of P62.49 million, more than 20 times the P2.93 million profit reported in 2004.

Overseas, EEI continues to corner projects in Saudi Arabia, Canada and New Caledonia, particularly in petrochemical and mining ventures.

On the homefront, EEI is engaged in various construction packages in projects like The Residences and Serendra of Ayala Land Inc., Fairways Tower, Kawasaki Plant Construction’s Mindanao coal-fired power plant, Taisei Shimizu’s Iloilo Airport runway project, the mechanical works for Pilipinas Kao plant expansion, and infrastructure works for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway project.

To support its continued expansion, EEI would hire an additional 6,000 personnel this year to bring its total manpower to 16,000, Castillo said.

Castillo said around P12 million has been set aside for training costs and acquisition of hard and software programs to upgrade the company’s system.

Over the past two years, EEI has been successful in improving its balance sheet, wiping out its previous capital deficiency and is now on the path to recovery.

EEI is engaged in infrastructure, high-rise and property development, and industrial construction in both the domestic and Middle East markets. It is also engaged in providing the industrial and commercial sector with a wide range of industrial plant facilities and equipment, replacement parts and supplies, and specialized engineering services.

It has been involved in the installation of power generating transmission facilities, construction of oil refineries, chemical production plants, cement plants, food and beverage manufacturing companies.

EEI also operates one of the country’s modern steel fabrication plant located in Bauan, Batangas.

Its main competitors are DMCI, Makati Development Corp., F.F. Cruz & Co., Leighton and BF Corp. which are also into building infrastructure as general contractors.

EEI’s strategy is to pursue leadership through multiple construction technology and multiple presence across georgraphic markets. Its aims to further expand its international market presence by increasing manpower services where it has successfully established a niche market with its track record.