Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 8) — The Indian government is now discussing with Philippine transport officials a possible soft-loan agreement on a big railway project.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran said they recently discussed this possibility with the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
\”We are also having a conversation around possible cooperation through Indian soft loan for major infrastructure project in the Philippines, potentially a railway project,\” said Kumaran.
He did not elaborate on the negotiations.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista previously said they were looking at potential funding sources from Japan, South Korea and India for the railway projects initially backed by China. The three railway projects are the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP), Philippine National Railways (PNR), and South Long Haul and the Subic-Clark Railway, respectively.
The ambassador did not confirm if India is seeking to fund one of these halted projects.
\”Well, this is up to the DOTr to indicate the railway funding, but we are open to any project,\” said Kumaran, adding that discussions are underway for potential partnerships.
In the field of transportation, apart from railways, India was also involved in airport development projects like what they did at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
In early November, the Indian government extended an offer to supply the Philippine Coast Guard with seven helicopters manufactured by India’ s biggest aeronautics company Hindustan.
