Marcos seeks India expertise for PH railway, space projects

CONTRIBUTED

President Marcos is seeking India’s technical expertise and cooperation on major railway projects and space technology development in the Philippines.

On the sidelines of his participation in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India on Saturday, Marcos held separate meetings with Rail India Technical and Economic Service Ltd. (RITES) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The summit is ending on Sunday, Sept. 13, which also happens to be the President’s 69th birthday.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said Marcos met with RITES representatives to explore possible cooperation on at least three railway projects.

The priority projects being considered by RITES are the Mindanao Railway Project, a mass rail system in Cebu and the extension of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) system from Tutuban commercial center in Tondo, Manila.

Gomez said RITES could participate in the projects as a consultant or through a public-private partnership (PPP), while also helping the Philippines explore official development assistance (ODA).

“They will look into them and we will study them),” he said after the meeting.

RITES, a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, provides consultancy services in the fields of transport, infrastructure and related technologies.

It has been listed as among the top 500 Indian companies, establishing itself as a preferred choice for clients in over 55 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Marcos also met with ISRO officials to discuss cooperation with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) in support of the country’s long-term goal of launching its own satellite.

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