OFFICIALS of New Caledonia, a nickel-rich French territory, are in the country to seek economic cooperation with the Philippines to augment its needs for human resources for the establishment of another $4-billion nickel plant and other infrastructure requirements.

Alain Descombels, president of the New Caledonia commission for economic development, said the visit seeks to explore new business opportunities with the Philippines and future partnership on several areas like education, maritime and information technology.

He said there are now around 2,000 Filipino workers in New Caledonia who are working in the first nickel mining plant that costs $4 billion. These workers have been in New Caledonia for the last 18 months.

“A new [mining] plant will be built in 2009 to be able to make New Caledonia the world’s top nickel producer,” said Descombels in a briefing with Philippine media held on Tuesday at the Alliance Francaise de Manille in Makati City. “We would be needing another 2,000 new Filipino workers for this mining project, also estimated to be worth $4 billion.”

The delegates from New Caledonia, composed of the members of assemblies of the South and Loyalty provinces, will also visit the ship Betico II, which they ordered from FBMA Marine Inc. of the Aboitiz firm.

The officials of the French territory will meet with the French business community in the Philippines and selected business groups in Cebu to discuss business opportunities in the country.

“The objective of the visit is to know the professions that would be available from the Philippines. We are in need mostly of technicians for our mining plants because we have a shortage of qualified technicians,” said Descombels.

Georges-Gaston Feydeau, counselor for cultural affairs of the French Embassy in Manila, said the French government is hopeful to conclude an immigration agreement with the Philippines to augment the human resource-requirements in sectors like health care, electronics, food and beverages, as well as tourism.

“We have been negotiating an agreement with the Philippines since December last year to increase the number of Filipino workers in France, especially in health care where we will be needing nurses and health-care providers,” said Feydeau at the press briefing.

France and other European countries are similarly facing a decline in population growth, prompting them to tap the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries to address the health-care requirements of their aging population.

FOREIGN businessmen in the country are dissatisfied with the 2008 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) that was approved by the Cabinet as they believe it was not target-oriented and specific enough to be really effective as an investment-promotions tool.

THERE are more women managers than male managers in the Philippines.

This was revealed by Carmelita Ericta, administrator of the National Statistics Office, when she spoke at the “Advocacy Forum on Gender Statistics” held Tuesday at the National Economic and Development Authority in Makati.

AMID brewing debate over high power rates, the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) urged a government audit of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) aside from a recommendation of removing the value-added tax (VAT) on power rates and the scrapping of the system-loss charge of distribution utilities if the government really wants public consumers to be unburdened from high power rates.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) will spend P90 million for a restocking program for backyard raisers and massive vaccination of sows in Luzon to prop up the supply of hogs in the region.

DAVAO CITY—China’s dismay with the national government maze of policy requirements for foreign investment may open up wider avenues to local governments, said Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who has pinned hope on Chinese investment to rev up the local economy.

THE constitutional prohibition against foreigners owning properties and businesses in the Philippines are preventing more Koreans from investing in Cebu.

OFFICIALS of New Caledonia, a nickel-rich French territory, are in the country to seek economic cooperation with the Philippines to augment its needs for human resources for the establishment of another $4-billion nickel plant and other infrastructure requirements.