Marcos meets German firms to boost job opportunities for Filipinos

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. during one-on-one meetings with representatives from Siemens AG, Wind Power Development (WPD), and Airbus. | PHOTO: Official facebook page of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO)

BERLIN – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. met with officials of German companies here on Tuesday to discuss their projects in healthcare technology, green manufacturing, renewable energy and aerospace that are seen to create more jobs and opportunities for expertise for Filipinos.

In posts on his Facebook and Instagram accounts, the President touted the results of his discussions with Airbus Asia Pacific, Siemens AG and Wind Power Development.

“Our partnerships with Siemens AG and Wind Power Development will create more jobs in healthcare tech, green manufacturing, and renewable energy,” Marcos said.

READ: To address labor shortage in Germany, Marcos urges companies to set up in PH

He added that “with Airbus on board, Filipinos will gain expertise in aerospace, enhancing our global standing in the aviation market.”

The President met with executives of the three companies at the Berlin Marriott Hotel on Tuesday afternoon following his remarks at the Philippine-German Business Forum at the same hotel.

In his talks with executives of Airbus Asia-Pacific, Mr. Marcos and Anand Stanley, President and head of Airbus Asia-Pacific discussed partnerships in developing the Philippines’ capabilities in the aerospace sector.

The President recognized Airbus’s willingness to support the military’s modernization program and reassured that the government will aid the company in its localization efforts.

READ: Marcos seeks to expand ties with Germany to include maritime

In return, Airbus reiterated its readiness to help the Philippines build its own in-country defense capabilities.

In his meeting with Siemens AG President Dr. Roland Busch, he discussed Siemens AG’s upcoming project for the healthcare sector such as the establishment of the Siemens Healthineers Training Center.

They also talked about the enhanced bilateral trade and investment between the Philippines and Germany. Busch is chair of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business.

In a post on Radio Television Malacanang’s Facebook and Youtube accounts, Malacanang said the meeting was also a platform for the President to “explore further avenues of collaboration with Siemens AG in terms of technical upskilling initiatives, economic partnership, digital services, renewable energy, infrastructure and e-mobility.”

READ: Marcos leads PH in exchanging trade deals with Germany worth $4.2B

As to the President’s discussions with officials of WPD GmbH, the talks focused on the company’s ongoing development projects for establishing offshore wind farms in Cavite, Negros Occidental and Guimaras.

WPD GmbH is a company specializing in the development of wind and solar projects. The proposed offshore wind farms are worth P 392.4 billion, the largest foreign investment recorded with the Board of Investments in 2023.

At present, WPD GmbH is setting up five onshore projects across the country to the tune of P56 million, with the projects expected to be completed between 2027 and 2030.

In his meeting, Mr. Marcos stressed the importance of these projects in promoting renewable energy and urged the company to work closely with the government in bringing foreign manufacturers of renewable energy like propellers and storage batteries to reduce production costs in the sector.