Banking on Central Luzon’s new breed of talents,
Mercedes-Benz establishes site in Clark
Mercedes-Benz Group Services Philippines, Inc. (MBGSP), a member of Daimler AG, inaugurated its new office in Clark on November 28, 2017.
This new location, dubbed as MBGSP Clark, is Mercedes-Benz’s second site in the Philippines. The first one was established in Cebu around six years ago.
Asked about the reason for establishing a base in Clark, MBGSP Chief Executive Heiko Nitsche said the whole Central Luzon offers a rich pool of talents and a prime land for foreign businesses.
Big personalities in Philippines’ European community attended MBGSP Clark’s inaugural ceremony. European Union’s (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen and German Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Missions Roland Schissau were among the notable guests.
Nitsche clarified that his company’s new location in Clark would not directly sell units. Instead, it would serve as a financial, accounting, and consulting base for Mercedes-Benz Group.
Filled with Promises
For Nitsche, Clark holds a very promising future not only for Mercedes-Benz Group, but also for other European investments.
European Union’s Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen spoke about the strong connection between this country and the western bloc. He was joined by German Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Missions Roland Schissau (leftmost) and Mercedes-Benz Group Services Chief Executive Officer Heiko Nitsche (middle).
The MBGSP executive sees the rich potential of the whole Central Luzon. Mercedes-Benz considered at least three reasons before it moved to Clark – pool of talents, infrastructure, and Clark’s proximity to Cebu.
“Six years ago, Daimler found Philippines,” Nitsche said, referring to Daimler AG’s Cebu office. As for the newly-opened site in Clark, Nitsche said “We have now almost 40 employees here, and we will also grow over the next years.”
EU Ambassador Franz Jessen was of the same view, saying that the relationship between the Philippines and European countries is getting stronger due to a heightened business atmosphere in the country.
Jessen also took the opportunity to answer questions raised about EU’s standing in the Philippines. It can be recalled that President Rodrigo Duterte rejected grants from EU when the western bloc purportedly criticized his drug war.
“It’s (Philippines-EU relations) driven by business; it’s not driven by political statements. It’s driven by business interests which I think is very good,” said Jessen.
Philippines’ Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade led a toast while encouraging western investments to trust the current administration.
On behalf of the Philippine government, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade encouraged more foreign investments in Clark, saying that this freeport zone is the Philippines’ best.
“Clark is an ideal place and a paradise to do business (in),” said Tugade when he led a toast at the culmination of MBGSP’s inaugural ceremony.
