The Department of Trade and Industry is wooing the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer to invest in the Philippines and meet the rising demand for zero-emission mobility in the country.
Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the agency was holding talks with Giant Manufacturing Company based in Taiwan.
“Initial discussions from last year continue to provide a good lead to investments. From what we have discussed so far, they said they are interested,” Rodolfo said.
The department is monitoring the domestic demand for the bicycles and its strong growth trajectory, which is expected to accelerate once Congress approves the bill protecting bicycle users.
“If we see good indications of growing demand for bicycles, we can reposition production towards the domestic market,” Rodolfo disclosed.
Giant is the world’s largest bike manufacturer by revenue which has factories in Taiwan, China and the Netherlands. The company sells bikes under its own name and toll manufactures them for other major brands.
Senator Pia Cayetano earlier filed Senate Bill No. 1518 or the Safe Pathways Act to protect cyclists on the streets. The bill proposes the creation of linked bicycle lanes and emergency pathways to form a network of routes that will bring people safely to essential destinations especially in times of emergency situations, where transportation can be a problem.
Rodolfo said the bill would not only promote healthy living with the proposed creation of bicycle lanes, but would also attract investments from bicycle and related companies.
“We would like to add a twist to that bill. We hope investors will find it interesting to sustain a bicycle market in the Philippines,” he said.
Several bicycle manufacturers and exporters currently operate in economic zones in Cavite and Laguna. One of them, Shimano (Philippines) Inc., a subsidiary of Shimano Singapore Inc., started operating in 2015 from its plant in Tanauan, Batangas.