The Department of Trade and Industry committed to help India’s Hinduja Group of Companies find a local partner in the company’s bid to join the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program if it decides on a partnership model for the project.
Hinduja Group chairman Prakash Hinduja welcomed government’s support in a recent meeting with the department late this month
Hinduja Group is one of the largest diversified groups in the world, with investments in automotive, oil and gas, real estate, power, healthcare, trading, information technology, media, banking and finance.
The group owns the Indian automobile company Ashok Leyland, the fourth largest bus manufacturer in the world.
It has presence in the Philippines through an IT-BPO subsidiary, Hinduja Global Solutions Philippines, employing 9,000 people. It operates in 11 sites in Quezon City, Muntinlupa City and Iloilo City.
Hinduja said he earlier met with the Department of Transportation, which informed his company that it needed over 100,000 vehicles for the modernization program.
The Trade Department also urged the Indian company to manufacture modern jeepneys and electric vehicles in the Philippines.
The DTI aims to boost the Philippine manufacturing sector to create jobs, answer domestic and export demand, and lessen the country’s dependence on imported products.
Hinduja Group may explore opportunities in other e-vehicle platforms and see if progress can coincide with the upcoming visit of Indian President Shri Ram Nath Kovind to the Philippines.