ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, CONSERVATION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

INAUGURATION AND SWITCH-ON CEREMONIES OF THE INGASCO PLANT, ISLA BALLROOM, EDSA SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, AUGUST 10, 2004, 7:30 PM

HONORABLE AKIO EGAWA, CHARGE D’AFFAIRES OF THE EMBASSY OF JAPAN, SECRETARY CESAR V. PURISIMA OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, DIRECTOR GENERAL LILIA B. DE LIMA OF THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC ZONE AUTHORITY, GOVERNOR ARMANDO SANCHEZ OF THE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS, DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS OF INGASCO PHILIPPINES AND NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION OF JAPAN, RESPECTIVELY HEADED BY MR. NORIKAZU ISHIKAWA AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT HIROSUKE MATSUEDA, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND FRIENDS OF INGASCO, GOOD EVENING!

ON BEHALF OF HER EXCELLENCY, PRES. GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, I AM HAPPY TO LEAD THE FORMAL INAUGURATION AND SWITCH-ON CEREMONIES OF THE EXPANDED AIR SEPARATION PLANT OF INGASCO PHILIPPINES.

IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I CONGRATULATE THE OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT OF INGASCO PHILIPPINES, YOUR LOCAL PARTNERS, THE GUTIERREZ FAMILY, CALOOCAN GAS CORPORATION AND YOUR JOINT VENTURE PARTNER, NIPPON SANSO OF JAPAN, ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST INDUSTRIAL GAS MANUFACTURERS, AND THEIR OFFICERS WHO SACRIFICED THEIR VALUABLE TIME WHO FLEW IN FROM JAPAN TO WITNESS THE SUCCESS OF THEIR ENDEAVOR IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR SUNRISE AND EMERGENT EXPORT INDUSTRIES, NOTABLY THE SEMI-CONDUCTOR AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES.

INDEED, YOUR ENDEAVOR IS A VITAL RESPONSE IN OUR GOVERNMENT’S BATTLE TO GRADUALLY EFFACE ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES THROUGH ITS FIVE (5) KEY REFORM PACKAGES, ONE OF WHICH IS JOB CREATION THROUGH ECONOMIC GROWTH. OUR GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT INVESTMENT IN ENERGY PROVIDES THE GREATEST MULTIPLIER EFFECT FOR GROWTH AND JOB CREATION. INGASCO WILL NOT ONLY EARN SIGNIFICANT REVENUES NEEDED TO EVENTUALLY SOLVE OUR BUDGET DEFICIT, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO EMPLOYMENT GENERATION AND COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENT BY WAY OF THE APPROPRIATE DISTRIBUTION OF VITAL AND KEY INDUSTRIES IN OTHER ECONOMIC CENTERS.

WE COMMEND THE STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND PARTNERS OF INGASCO PHILIPPINES, INC. AND NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION OF JAPAN, FOR THEIR MORE THAN P1.2 BILLION PESOS WORTH OF INVESTMENTS AND THEIR CONTINUING SERIES OF EXPANSIONARY ACTIVITIES GEARED TOWARDS PROVIDING THE VITAL GAS INPUTS TO OUR SEMI-CONDUCTOR, ELECTRONIC, PETROCHEMICAL, MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL AND OTHER EMERGENT INDUSTRIES OF THE 22ND CENTURY.

WITH THIS, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE GENERATION OF SIX TO TEN MILLION JOBS AS EMPHASIZED IN THE 10 POINT AGENDA OF THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD COME INTO A REALITY.

OUR GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHICH IS OUR KEY PARTNER IN PURSUING OUR PLANS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE INTEREST AND WELFARE OF OUR NATION AS A WHOLE. YOUR OXYGEN, NITROGEN, ARGON AND OTHER GAS PRODUCTS, IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES AND QUALITY THAT YOU SUPPLY TO YOUR CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS HELP PROPEL THE ENTIRE CHAIN OF INDUSTRIES THAT MANUFACTURE END-USER PRODUCTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITIZENRY.

LET ME AGAIN STRESS WHAT PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO SAID IN HER STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS, THAT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, THE SOLUTIONS REQUIRE NOT JUST TOUGHNESS ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT AND ACTIVE SUPPORT ON THE PART OF CONGRESS, BUT COOPERATION ON THE PART OF BUSINESS AND PATIENCE ON THE PART OF PEOPLE.

IN THIS LIGHT, I ALSO THANK AND COMMEND INGASCO’S PARTNERS, CLIENTS AND FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR THEIR OWN EFFORTS IN PROPELLING OUR ECONOMY TOWARDS THE REALIZATION OF A STABLE AND STRONG REPUBLIC.

ON BEHALF OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE, ALLOW US TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR PIONEERING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING THE SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS OF THE COUNTRY’S BACKBONE AND VITAL INDUSTRIES.

MARAMING SALAMAT AT MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT! LET US CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD TO ACHIEVE OUR VISION OF A PROSPEROUS, SELF-SUFFICIENT AND STRONG REPUBLIC.

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