Gyeongju, South Korea – Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. Ltd. (SEMCO), the subsidiary of Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines Corp. (SEMPHIL), is now banking on Filipino talents for its future technological developments.
This after the multinational manufacturing conglomerate based in South Korea has agreed to partner with the Philippine universities for its research and development initiatives during its meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in South Korea last Saturday.
The President welcomed the said initiative since it will help the Philippines produce more skilled workers, who may be tapped by high-tech industries.
‘I don’t think they do that in every place where they operate. And so, that is a very good development that we had just a few minutes ago,’ Marcos said in a press conference last Saturday after he attended the closing ceremony of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in South Korea.
He said he is pushing for every foreign investor to emulate the same practice and also to transfer technology to Filipino firms to help the country in building its high-tech industry.
‘I always tell to those who invest in the country for them to train people. And it should not be one time, but it should be done regularly.’
The chief executive said he met with Samsung officials to discuss its commitment to invest P50.7 billion for the expansion of its manufacturing operations in Calamba, Laguna, which will generate more than 3,000 new high-technology jobs.
‘I met with them today and they asked me what we could help them and they asked me what we could help them with an expansion in the Philippines,’ Marcos said.
Samsung currently employs 8,000 workers for its local operations. SEMPHIL’s P50-billion investment will be poured into a ‘high-technology’ manufacturing facility which will churn out key components used in electric vehicles (EVs) and smart devices.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) noted that the project is expected to begin commercial operations by July 2027 and create over 3,500 ‘high-quality’ jobs for Filipino workers.
‘With its new expansion investment, SEMPHIL will establish a state-of-the art, high-technology manufacturing facility to produce automotive multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs)-key components used in EVs and smart devices.’
The office of the president’s economic czar said Marcos has bagged this ‘landmark’ P50.7 billion investment from SEMPHIL, being the first project to be granted ‘Presidential Incentives’ under the CREATE MORE Act or Republic Act 12066.
Marcos said Samsung’s commitment to expand its operations in the Philippines not only translates into 3,000 new jobs but would also pave the way for the transfer of technology.
The project is expected to strengthen the Philippines’s role in the global electronics and electronic vehicles supply.