Marcos meets with FedEx execs in Singapore; expanded Clark hub to open in 2028

SINGAPORE — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with executives of logistics company FedEx on Thursday as part of his five-day working visit in Singapore.

After his attendance at the 24th Forbes Global CEO Conference, Marcos had a meeting with FedEx Airline and International President and CEO Richard Smith and FedEx Asia Pacific Regional President Salil Chari.

The president was joined by Finance Secretary Frederick Go, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo Macaraig, Trade Commercial Counsellor Carla Grepo, FedEx Chief of Government Affairs for Asia Pacific Choo Pin Ang, and FedEx General Counsel Doreen Tan.

The discussions centered on FedEx’s “rapid growth” in the Philippines mainly the expansion of FedEx’s Clark Gateway Hub in Pampanga set to open in the last quarter of 2028, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

“The expanded hub will significantly increase capacity for international air freight and specialized cargo, helping Philippine MSMEs reach global markets,” it said.

FedEx operates two main facilities in the Philippines: the Clark Gateway Hub in Pampanga and the Manila Gateway at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

The Clark Hub, which opened in 2021 as a 17,000-square-meter facility at Clark International Airport, serves as a central clearing and routing hub for international air freight in and out of the Philippines.

Singapore is a vital trading partner and source of investment for the Philippines mainly in the sectors of manufacturing, energy, and services.

The Southeast Asian city-state is the Philippines’ leading source of foreign investment pledges, at P20.26 billion, or 27.5 percent of the total approved foreign investment, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

It is also the Philippines’ largest ASEAN export market, with US$295.60 million in exports.