An Australia-based logistics firm expanding in the Philippines is aiming for double-digit growth in the next five years on the back of higher demand for its services from the retail, technology and automotive industries.
The Toll Group said it is growing its presence across Asia with the official opening of a local office in the Philippines.
The company is in Parañaque City, Metro Manila, which is near major sea and airports.
“The Manila office enables Toll Group to more effectively support Philippines-based businesses in their supply chain needs, empowering them with a suite of best-in-class supply chain solutions and access to regional growth opportunities,” the company said in a statement.
The logistics firm has been in the Philippines since 2007 but only through local partners.
The move to open a local hub is seen to provide the Toll Group “more autonomy and control over operations and service quality, streamlining goods transition and coordination in line with industry best practices.”
In addition, Toll Group said its Philippine footprint will allow local businesses to access its global freight forwarding network, which can lead to new business opportunities in regional value chains.
“A key objective of our direct expansion into the Philippines was to enhance access to global opportunities for local businesses. Many freight forwarders in the Philippines operate through a partner-based model and do not personally own a global or regional supply chain network, creating challenges in visibility and quality control,” said Benjamin Bathan, who has been appointed as the country manager for the Philippines.
Linking local companies to global value chains, Toll Group said, is in line with its efforts to tap the Philippines’s unrealized $49-billion export potential. “Today, uncertainties and supply chain bottlenecks have made a multimodal approach to transport and the ability to access multiple suppliers and markets critical for business continuity and resilience,” said Rajeev Sood, Senior Vice President—ASEAN and Indian Subcontinent, Toll Global Forwarding.
“Having a direct presence in the Philippines reaffirms Toll Group’s commitment to helping businesses across Asia navigate supply chain challenges and contributes to the continued expansion of our regional network and presence.”
The company caters to over 20,000 customers across the world through its 500 sites across 25 countries and a forwarding network covering 150 countries.