Dubai-based DP World Group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem has held discussions with senior Philippines officials on trade and business opportunities.

During the meeting held in Manila with the Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, discussions revolved around the government’s plans for development of the maritime sector, privatisation and efforts to develop infrastructure.

Bin Sulayem said: “We had a cordial and fruitful meeting with HE Jose Rene Almendras who expressed great support of DP World’s operations in the Philippines and praised our contribution to the economic growth of the country. The Philippines is a strategic location for DP World and a key part of our Asia Pacific region operations. We are keen to share our experiences and apply our proven expertise in the marine, logistics and trade sectors to further develop our partnerships there. We look forward to building on our excellent relations in the future.”

DP World operates four terminals in the Philippines and is a partner in Asian Terminals Inc (ATI), which operates the modern South Harbour in Manila, the capital. ATI is the sole container terminal and multi-cargo port operator of South Harbour, the Philippines’ key terminal in the country’s biggest market providing services for containerised and non-containerised cargoes and passengers.

The company also provides integrated port solutions to customers through facilities outside Manila which include:
* Port of Batangas – a modern seaport located 110 km south of the capital. It handles passengers, ro-ro transport, bulk and break-bulk cargo and Batangas Container Terminal has an annual throughput capacity of 300,000 TEUs.
* Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) – located 36 km south of Manila, it serves as a strategic link between manufacturing hubs of South Luzon with the port gateways at Manila South Harbour and Batangas Port.
* Port of General Santos – located in the southern Philippines, a multi-cargo terminal which serves as an ideal gateway to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines regions. - TradeArabia News Service