CALAMBA CITY, Laguna — The Presidential Special Envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council welcomed the first-ever entry of multi-million investments by Middle East conglomerate, LuLu Group International, with Wednesday’s inauguration of its subsidiary, May Exports Philippines — a world-class cutting edge product processing facility and food logistics hub.
“I fervently hope that LuLu Group’s operation here in the Philippines will benefit from the government’s aggressive initiatives in “Ease of Doing Business,” Ambassador Amable R. Aquiluz V said.
Aside from Aguiluz, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the Philippines Hamad Saeed Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi; Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar; and Philippines Honorary Consul to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Amable C. Aguiluz IX, also graced the opening of the LuLu Group’s pioneering venture on food and non-food and commodities export center in this city.
Nestled at the sprawling Calamba Premier International Park (CPIP) in Barangay Batino here, the state-of-the-art Warehouse No. 1 of May Exports Philippines product processing center is primarily engaged in sourcing, storing, packing and exporting food and non-food commodities aimed at reaching the ASEAN markets, particularly hypermarts.
“I firmly believe that its excellent connectivity and global presence will further enhance its ability to harness Asia’s growth potential,” said Aguiluz, adding that the establishment is a manifestation of LuLu’s desire to strengthen its operation here.
He said the establishment of the logistics center is also a clear indication that LuLu Group is ready to offer top-quality services and infrastructure wherever and whenever its clients need them.
Aguiluz said he looks forward to Lulu Group’s business sustainability considering the thrust of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration on infrastructure growth through the “Build, Build, Build” program.
He cited the President’s “Build, Buil, Build” iwhich focuses on the massive development of highways, railways, subways, expansion of the LRTs, more airports, seaports and rural roads for an all-inclusive development in the country.
Successful and time completion of these proposed projects will ensure cost effectiveness and operational efficiencies in the transport and logistics sector, he said.
He added that he was among the officials present during the LuLu Group’s courtesy call on the President in Malacañang Palace on Tuesday.
“The President has expressed his sincerest gratitude to LuLu Group International for employing 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in their various outlets worldwide,” he said.
He also revealed the President’s request for an audience with LuLu Group in his desire to fulfill the “ease of doing business” mandate.
According to Aguiluz, the Chief Executive also told the LuLu officials “to help in fighting corruption by reporting directly to the President any attempt or any deliberate acts to delay processing of government requirements”.
Meanwhile, UAE envoy Hamad Saeed expressed delight with the entry of LuLu Group as among the leading Middle East investors in the Philippines aside from their earlier investments in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Far East, USA, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Spain, South Africa and India.
“I think business is connecting deeper among countries and more trade relations have been extended and opened more global business with their (LuLu Group) investments,” Hamad said.
Indian Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar described the inauguration of the export product and logistics hub as “a very historic occasion where the LuLu Group has expanded from the Gulf countries, India, Indonesia and now in the Far East — the Philippines”.
“They have their financial services, but now we see the incarnation of creating jobs, creating venue, creating wealth for farmers and the agriculture sector and for MSMEs and small entrepreneurs,” he said.
He added that this new enterprise is a graphic mix of creating jobs, entrepreneurship and wealth.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Agribusiness and Marketing Jose Gabriel Laviña congratulated the LuLu Group.
“We really want to be friends with everyone, and enemies to none. The reason for that is we want to welcome investors like you here. A (US) 100 million dollars in purchases in the next few years would certainly be a big help to our entrepreneurs, and our farmers,” Laviña said.
As a DA official tasked in marketing the farmers’ products, Laviña expressed optimism in directly connecting the new export food center to the farmers and entrepreneurs.
Noting the President’s instruction, Laviña urged investors to report to any irregularity in the government like red tape that would hinder then from doing business in the country.
“The sooner you can get to your (US) hundred dollars from exports from the Philippines, the better,” he said.
He also thanked the LuLu Group’s kind treatment of their Filipino workers in their various firms saying, “it is something that warms our heart, and wants to serve you better”.
The UAE-based LuLu Group is one of the top business houses in the Middle East with USD 7.42 billion annual global turnover and has achieved significant growth and diversified into various business lines such as retail, shopping malls, hypermarkets, import and distribution of fresh and frozen foodstuffs, food processing and export. (Saul Pa-a/PNA)
