Japanese integrated trading firm Sumitomo Corporation is exploring expanded investments in the Philippines’ railway and energy infrastructure, the Department of Trade and Industry said.

Investment czar and Finance Secretary Frederick Go, in a statement on Tuesday, said the conglomerate is pursuing opportunities to contribute to the operations and maintenance of the North-South Commuter Railway, backing the development of a more integrated and efficient rail network.

He said Sumitomo is also looking to expand its investments in energy infrastructure, including renewable energy projects that could support railway operations, while strengthening the country’s long-term energy security and industrial competitiveness.

One of Phl’s most valued partners

“Sumitomo has long been one of the Philippines’ most valued partners. We look forward to deepening this partnership through strategic investments in infrastructure and other key sectors that will strengthen our competitiveness and support our long-term economic development,” Go said.

Sumitomo, for more than four decades, has played a key role in delivering major transport infrastructure projects, including the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1).

To date, Sumitomo participates in four major railway projects under the Department of Transportation, including the MRT-3 Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project, the Metro Manila Subway Project, and two contract packages under the North-South Commuter Railway.

Secretary Go maintained that Sumitomo’s continued interest in expanding its investments in the Philippines reflects growing confidence in the country’s infrastructure pipeline, reinforcing the government’s sustained efforts to foster a stable, competitive, and investment-friendly environment for long-term, high-quality investments.

More investors

Also on Monday, the Department of Transportation said at least 26 Japanese companies have expressed interest in a public-private partnership to expand and modernize the MRT Line 3 project, in a bid to reduce Metro Manila’s chronic traffic congestion and improve daily commutes for millions of Filipinos.