Indian bus manufacturer seeking local partner

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday said it committed to help the Hinduja Group of Companies look for a local partner for its plan to manufacture buses as part of the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

The India-based conglomerate owns automobile firm Ashok Leyland, the fourth largest bus manufacturer globally.

The DTI said it will aid Hinduja Group’s bid should the company decide on a partnership model for the business venture. Trade officials, led by DTI secretary Ramon Lopez, met with Hinduja Europe’s chairman Prakash Hinduja on 23 August.

“Mr. Hinduja said he previously met with the Department of Transportation (DoTR) and relayed that the agency needs over 100,000 vehicles for the modernization program,” the trade agency said.

Lopez also urged the Hinduja Group official to consider manufacturing modern jeepneys and electric vehicles.

Under the PUV modernization program launched in 2017, the DoTR aims to shift to a more efficient and environmentally-friendly public transportation system by June 2020.

The program is phasing out and replacing PUV 15 years or older with the target of putting 170,000 modernized jeepneys out in the road by the deadline.

Should Hinduja Group pursue its plan to manufacture locally, the DTI said this would help create jobs, answer domestic and export demand as well as lessen the dependence on imported products.

“Hinduja Group would explore the suggestions of DTI for this opportunity and see if progress can coincide with the upcoming visit of Indian President Shri Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to the Philippines,” DTI said.

Aside from its bus manufacturing business, Hinduja Group is also involved in the automotive, oil and gas, real estate, power, healthcare, trading, information technology, media as well as banking and finance industries.

Hinduja Group’s is currently present in the Philippines through its unit Hinduja Global Solutions Philippines. The information technology-business process outsourcing firm employs about 9,000 people in its 11 sites in Quezon City, Muntinlupa City and Iloilo City.