Sonion, global leader in design of advanced miniature components and solutions for hearing instruments and advanced acoustics, is ramping up its investments in the country to $30 million and employment to 800 employees by end 2014 for its most complex site in Batangas.
Sonion Philippines Director General Niels Ole Jeppesen said at the inauguration of its new plant yesterday in the First Philippine Industrial Park in Tanauan, Batangas that total investment foreseen by end of 2014 in the country is pegged at $30 million or €23 million and the plan is to hire about 800 employees by end of 2014.
The employees to be hired would include product and process design engineers, Jeppesen said.
“The site in Batangas will become the most complex Sonion site with all the company’s competences represented under one roof,” Jeppesen said.
Jeppesen indicated that the Philippines site was preferred to other locations because of the generally high educational level of the workforce, reasonable infrastructure, competitive incentives for foreign investors and the warm welcome and good cooperation with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
Jørn Mørkeberg, Sonion Group CEO, and PEZA Director-General Lilia de Lima were present during the plant inauguration.
Construction of the 11.500 square meter factory started early 2012 and installation and run in of the first production line began November 2012. At present, Sonion in the Philippines employs 130 people. An investment of $22 million has been made to set up the operations.
The Batangas plant’s production is all geared for the export market, particularly Europe, US, Mexico, China, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Sonion is the latest European Union firm that entered the country. There are already 289 European Union firms registered with the PEZA.
EU Ambassador Ledoux said, “The inauguration of this factory is a good illustration of the strong and growing economic relationship between the EU and the Philippines. European companies are attracted by the skills and talents of Filipino workers.”
Ledoux indicated that the legal environment offered by PEZA is very attractive and could serve as a model for reducing red tapes and improving the overall investment climate in the country.
The European Union is the largest investment partner of the Philippines with its total stock of investments reaching 7.6 billion Euros as of 2011 or about 28% of total FDI stock in the Philippines. The European Union is the fifth largest trading partner of the Philippines accounting for 9% of the Philippine total trade in goods.
Globally, Sonion employs around 2,700 employees and has facilities in Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, US, China, Vietnam and now also in the Philippines. Sonion is a global leader in design of advanced miniature components and solutions for hearing instruments and advanced acoustics.
Its components are produced at its two factories in Vietnam and Poland. Sonion is certified according to the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Its product range includes balanced armature receivers, high-end microphones and electromechanical components for the hearing instruments and high-end audio headsets.

Source: Manila Bulletin - July 4, 2013