SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently recognized Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Philippines) as top exporter for the machinery and transport equipment sector in the country.
The Top Sectoral Exporter citation was given to Hanjin during the National Export Congress as the DTI cited the company’s numerous export transactions during the past year.
The recognition is seen as another milestone in more than 10 years of Hanjin’s productive shipbuilding activity in the Philippines.
Hanjin had been acclaimed as a consistent top exporter among Subic registered enterprises in the recent years.
Its impact on the Philippine economy is also huge, with foreign direct investments at $2.3 billion and generating employment to over 33,000 Filipinos from across the country.
The Europe-based Clarkson Research has also recognized its Philippine operations as among the elite group of the largest shipbuilding nations globally, ranking the country 5th in terms of order book.
Amid the prevailing worldwide economic downturn that has dealt blows to the global shipbuilding market and has triggered intense competition from shipbuilders, the latest achievement received by Hanjin is nothing more than a concrete testament to the company’s strong resiliency and firm resolve to overcome great challenges facing the industry.
It has recognized the role of its skilled workforce as one of its competitive strength aside from innovative technology that continue to keep abreast of the fast changing developments in the global maritime trade and commerce.
Hanjin President Gwang Suk Chung said, “We are honored to receive such an award from the DTI under the leadership of Secretary Ramon Lopez who is steering President Rodrigo Duterte’s vision of reinvigorating the manufacturing sector in general for the common good."
“We are more than proud of the craftsmanship of the Filipino shipbuilders, without them, we wouldn’t have won the award,” he added.
He said "in sum, this underscores the bright prospect of the shipbuilding industry as an engine of economic growth for the country in the long term.”
Hanjin has already delivered to various shipping companies overseas a total of 98 vessels as of August 2016 - with a total export tag price of $5.708 billion.
Chung said “This is indeed a product of the collective effort between Hanjin and the Philippine government. Such long and fruitful collaboration has helped us gain the trust and confidence of our valued clients to continue working with us on big ticket projects with far-reaching positive effects to the global economic landscape in the years ahead”.
Hanjin is currently on the process of building three 20,600 TEU containerships considered among the biggest in the world today.
Hanjin is also constructing a fleet of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Carriers after having successfully delivered four first-ever Philippine-made vessels of such kind this year.
DTI Director Senen Perlada said, “We want to equip exporters with the necessary tools for them to be competitive. We also want exporters to cooperate with government agencies in simplifying procedures and documentations.”
She added the award also recognizes the exporters for their exemplary performance and contribution to the country’s economic and export growth. (Ric Sapnu)