President Duterte’s visit to Russia last year has created opportunities for Moscow and Manila businessmen to enter into joint ventures like that between Eastern Petroleum and GAZ Group.
Under the brand name Gazelle, the first batch of light commercial vehicles from Russian GAZ Group Light Commercial Vehicles Llc. rolled out Monday straight to the warehouse of Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies .
“We have received the Gazelle Next Van and Gazelle Next Cityline and are warehoused in our facility in Pasig City,” Dr. Fernando L. Martinez, Eastern Petroleum Group Chairman and Chief Executive, said.
“The first of many shipments,” Martinez said, “This is a milestone for our Group as this confirms our Russian partner’s commitment to market its vehicles in the Philippines and reaffirms their support to the Government’s transport modernization program.”
Succeeding shipments are coming in the next few weeks in time for the upcoming Manila International Auto Show 2018 (MIAS).
Gazelle Motors Corp., the automotive business unit of Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies, would take delivery GAZ succeeding units
Martinez said the Group would use the initial units for its initial display, marketing and market study and research, among others. “These units come at opportune time, as these would also help us in our plans to localize some of these units’ components,” he added.
The partnership between Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies and Gaz Group of Russia was initiated during President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s visit to Moscow, Russia in May last year. The partnership was firmed up in a signing ceremony at the sidelights of the Comtrans 2017 in Moscow.
Based on the cooperation agreement, Eastern Petroleum Group of Companies was has the exclusive right to distribute and conduct after-sales services of GAZ Group Light Commercial Vehicles Llc.’s light commercial, medium commercial and heavy-duty vehicles in the Philippines.
“With more than 200,000 units in the country due for replacement in the next five years, the product line our Russian partners brings fully comply with the environmental standards and also meet all comfort and safety requirements of the Philippines,” Martinez said.