The commitment of Singapore-based multinational technology firm Dyson to invest about PHP11 billion in the Philippines is expected to generate more than 1,000 jobs by 2024, Malacañang said on Saturday.

Dyson executives met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Singapore on Saturday and pledged an investment over the next two years, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

Citing a Dyson official, Garafil said the investment plan would be used for the establishment of a new factory and a new research and development center in the Philippines, as well as for the expansion of the company’s staff, software, and other services.

“Dyson also emphasized that their investment would generate around 1,250 employees and would move more contract manufacturing into the Philippines by the middle of 2024, or the second or third quarter of the year,” she said.

“For their part, Dyson officials told President Marcos that they are very proud to be in the Philippines already as they emphasized that they have a significant number of operations in the country.”

To date, Dyson only has a factory in the Philippines to produce its electrical motors.

Dyson decided three or four months ago to expand its operations in the country, according to Garafil.

Marcos said Dyson’s investment commitment would be “very interesting” for the Philippines as it translates into the hiring of more software engineers and other engineering graduates. He assured its officials that they made the “right decision.”

“So, well, let’s see with all those that we have, that we can do,” Marcos told Dyson officials, as quoted by the PCO.

Batangas site

A news release in May in the Dyson website said a “Philippines Technology Centre, representing an investment of PHP 11 billion, will span the equivalent of 92 basketball courts, and will bring together Dyson’s research, development and advanced motor manufacturing capabilities under one roof,” to be located in City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas and scheduled to be operational by the first half of 2024.

“It is thought to be one of the largest investments, and most advanced technology manufacturing centers, in the country and underscores the growing importance of the Philippines in Dyson’s global ambitions. As part of the investment, Dyson aims to initially hire an additional 400 engineers and more than 50 graduate engineers who will join the team later this year,” Dyson said.

Dyson R&D (research and development) teams in the Philippines will be focused on software, AI, robotics, fluid dynamics and hardware electronics, the company said.

“These fields of expertise are critical for Dyson’s high-performing products, from robotic technologies to air enhancement technologies, and beauty products, such as the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, which are increasingly enabled by software, sensors and connectivity,” it said.

Dyson said the architecture of the Batangas campus will prioritize air quality, natural light, and greenery to support collaboration and the generation of new ideas. It will include leisure and sports areas, as well as laboratories and offices.

Support

In a video message, House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said he and other Philippine government and business leaders joined Marcos in Singapore to review current legislation, particularly on laws that govern the treatment and the appreciation of foreign investments into the country.

“Hahanapan natin ng paraan to amend o babaguhin natin para mas maging open ang bansa sa foreign direct investment. So, gagawin natin lahat, ayon sa ginawa natin sa (We will do everything to amend the law to make the country more open to foreign direct investment. So, we will do everything in accordance with the) Foreign Investment Act at sa (and the) Retail Trade Liberalization (Act) to open up the economy to foreign direct investments,” Romualdez said.

Dyson’s headquarters in Singapore is a hub for its research and engineering teams, as well as commercial, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain operations. (PNA)

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