Giant tennis equipment maker plans Phividec production hub

HEAD N.V., the world’s largest tennis equipment and accessories manufacturer, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Phividec Industrial Estate Authority for its plan to produce tennis balls at the economic zone located in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental for the global market.

“We are expecting one of the largest tennis ball manufacturing firms to produce tennis balls here,” said Phividec Administrator and CEO Franklin Quijano.

There was no definite figure as to the investments, but Quijano noted that HEAD could be producing 10 million balls every year.

Quijano noted that the country’s rubber production is being bought by other countries and being renamed, but once HEAD proceeds with its plan the local rubber can be brought direct to the factory and be used in the production of tennis balls, creating value addition and employment.

According to Quijano, HEAD is still conducting technical and engineering inspection like soil and water tests. The Netherlands-based company is also looking at 4-5 hectares of land inside Phividec.

The HEAD group is at the same level as the Chinese-owned Panhua Group Co., Ltd. in their due diligence. Panhua is looking at 300-400 hectares inside Phividec for its planned integrated steel project.

Phividec has been looking forward to the proposed integrated steel project because this would be the first in Philippine history.

Quijano, however, said that if the Chinese will not pursue the project, “somebody else will because trade is shifting and investors find the Philippines attractive because of its strategic location.”

In fact, Quijano has noted of the growing attractiveness of Phividec to investors. He shared he has been receiving two visitor groups in a day exploring opportunities in the zone as project site.

Already, San Miguel Corp. has located five of their manufacturing operations in Phividec. These are Purefoods, B-MEG, feedmill, beer, and packaging. Quijano estimated that SMC invested 14 billion inside the ecozone,

Gardenia Bakeries Philippines also invested 11 billion for its latest bread manufacturing plant that will serve the south and augment supply for the Visayas. (BCM)