Manila (GNP): Pakistan’s Sazgar Engineering Works Limited has opened its first overseas manufacturing facility, a three-wheeler assembly plant in the Philippines. The move takes the company’s production beyond Pakistan for the first time and targets rising demand for electric and conventional vehicles in Southeast Asia.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr inaugurated the plant on Friday in Biñan, Laguna. The facility is run by Sazgar Philippines Inc. Marcos described the investment as a chance to strengthen local manufacturing, create jobs and expand the country’s electric vehicle industry.
The plant can produce around 12,000 three-wheelers a year. Marcos said the initial output will be 60% electric and 40% conventional models powered by internal combustion engines. He expects the electric share to grow as market demand increases.
The electric models are designed to cut costs for drivers. Marcos said they will offer a range of 100 to 210 kilometres per charge, depending on the battery option, with a full recharge taking about six to eight hours. He added that they could lower drivers’ operating expenses and reduce the Philippines’ reliance on imported fuel. The plant will build both passenger and commercial three-wheelers.
This focus on electric vehicles matches national policy. Marcos said the investment fits the Philippines’ electric vehicle industry roadmap, which aims for a 50% electric share of the vehicle fleet by 2040.
Local industry is expected to benefit as well. Marcos said at least 25% of each vehicle’s value will initially come from local sources, and the company is expected to raise that share over time. Suppliers of batteries, glass, upholstery, rubber, lubricants and other components stand to gain business, and the project is also expected to create jobs for Filipino workers.
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The project is a partnership between Sazgar and Filipino investors, and Marcos said the company is 60% Filipino-owned. He encouraged it to work with more Filipino manufacturers and widen its domestic supply chain. He added that the government would support efforts to strengthen local production.
Sazgar also gains a base for wider expansion. Marcos said the plant will serve as a manufacturing hub for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), giving the company an entry point into the wider regional market.
Pakistan’s diplomats played a part in making it happen. Ambassador to the Philippines Asima Rabbani congratulated Sazgar, and the Pakistan Embassy in Manila said it had helped the company enter the Philippine market. The launch also shows other Pakistani manufacturers what overseas partnerships can offer, including new markets and a share in growing regional demand for electric mobility.
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
