ICTSI plans expansion in ASEAN region
Filipino-owned international port operator ICTSI has proposed to the Brunei government a 20-year concession for its port development even at looks at undertaking more port developments in the ASEAN region, where it has only three at present.
Christian Gonzalez, head of Asia Pacific and the Subcontinent of international port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), told reporters covering the 14th Management International CEO Conference 2016 at Makati Shangri-La that the strategy for the region is to invest in countries where there are opportunities.
Gonzalez said that ICTSI has already submitted its proposal to the Brunei government where it sought for a 20-year concession for its port development.
At present, its port operation in Brunei is done on an annual contract. ICTSI has just signed its fifth contract renewal with the Brunei government.
It has also sought for an expansion of its scope of work in Indonesia.
“We have only three port operations in ASEAN, including the Manila International Container Terminal,” he said.
It is also interested in Myanmar and other countries in the region depending on opportunities saying each country has certain issues.
Indonesia has a national port authority where private operators have to deal with. Some Asean countries have many small ports while others have cross ownerships.
Gonzalez said they also would like to forge a concession agreement with the Indonesian authorities so they can plan on a longer term basis for the development of the port.
Only by having a full control on a particular port through a concession that an operator can really plan and invest for the future.
This is the reason, he said, they left Japan because they had no control on the port.
Other ICTSI ports under development and are expected to open soon include Melbourne, Australia, Iraq and Colombia.
At present, ICTSI operates ports in 20 countries across 6 continents making this Filipino company one of the biggest port operators globally.