PPP roadshow in Australia mulled

MANILA, Philippines - The government is looking at one more international roadshow to pitch major public private partnership (PPP) projects worth $21 billion after the successful trips to the US, Europe, Japan, and Singapore lured major investors led by the world’s largest asset manager Black Rock.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said in an interview with reporters that the planned international roadshow would be held in Sydney before the end of the year. “The next one we are planning is in Sydney,” Canilao said.

Canilao disclosed that Black Rock has expressed interest in the country’s infrastructure projects while other American investors are looking into major airport projects in the Philippines.

BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager with 7,700 portfolios managed and $4.32-trillion assets under management worldwide.

The Philippines kicked off its North America PPP investment roadshow in Toronto, Canada last Oct. 14 followed by New York and Washington DC in the US where Canilao presented 50 PPP projects to 40 fund managers, pension funds, and potential investors.

The presentation featured transportation projects, including airports, massive transport terminals, and rail lines, and highlighted the Regional Prisons Facilities Project as well as the Batangas-Manila Natural Gas Pipeline.

The PPP Center also conducted an international roadshow in Brussels during the recent European trip of President Aquino as well as in Japan, and Singapore.

The Philippines has been encouraging foreign companies to invest in the country’s PPP projects especially now that there is a steady deal flow of investment opportunities in the infrastructure sector and the country’s credit ratings are at an all-time high as evidenced by major international rating agencies’ successive upgrades.

Canilao earlier said the government hopes to roll out 16 PPP projects before the end of 2015.

The roll out of PPP projects in the Philippines is in full swing after the award of eight PPP projects worth close to P133 billion.