Officials saddened over FedEx decision to leave
First posted 04:40pm (Mla time) July 14, 2005
Agence France-Presse
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GOVERNMENT officials expressed regret on Thursday after US logistics giant FedEx announced it would close its Asia-Pacific hub in the country and move it to China.
"It is quite unfortunate to hear about the plan of FedEx. We already have the infrastructure projects ready," said Dennis Arroyo, director of the National Economic and Development Authority痴 national planning and policy staff.
Arroyo said FedEx's decision came just as the government was improving rail and road links to Subic Bay.
"If that is a business or corporate decision it is unfortunate. We hope they might reconsider. They may have other reasons privy only to themselves," said Transportation department spokesman Thompson Lantion.
FedEx chairman Frederick Smith announced in Hong Kong on Wednesday that his company would move its regional hub from Subic Bay, a former US naval base north of Manila, to what would be the largest Asia-Pacific air transshipment hub at Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport.