MAKATI CITY, PHILIPPINES - Ger-many plans to set up a 600 million peso (US$23 million) institute to train workers in mold and die making, in collaboration with the Philippine government. Erich Reindchardt, chairman of the German Asian High Tech Corp., said the institute will be crucial to the full development of heavy industry in the Philippines.
With the exception of Vietnam, the Philippines produces the fewest molds and dies of any country in Southeast Asia, according to Reindchardt.
Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and India have forged agreements with Germany to establish training centers for toolmaking and die-making workers.