During his official visit to India, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr held talks with the Hinduja Group, led by Shom Hinduja, to explore deeper business collaboration. The meeting focused on expanding investments in the Philippines, especially in Defence, Energy, Automotive, and Digital Technology.
Shom Hinduja, who oversees Alternative Energy and Sustainability for the Group and serves on the boards of Gulf Oil Lubricants and Ashok Leyland, said the Philippine leader was enthusiastic about creating a more investor-friendly environment. “President Marcos laid out the country’s promising new direction for business. We discussed key areas such as defence manufacturing, electric mobility through Switch Mobility, and support infrastructure from Gulf Oil to help scale up EV adoption,” he said.
Hinduja also shared updates on Ashok Leyland’s delivery of 50 locally assembled light commercial vehicles (LCVs) to the Philippines. Additionally, Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) signed a Letter of Intent with the Philippine government, signaling plans for major investment and expansion of its operations in the country.
The Hinduja Group has been active in the Philippines since 1998 through a joint venture between Gulf Oil International and the Philippine National Oil Company. The partnership operates Gulf Oil Philippines Inc, which produces and distributes Gulf-branded lubricants approved by leading global engine makers.
HGS, which entered the Philippine market in 2003, runs customer service and business operations hubs in Manila, Iloilo, and Cebu, employing over 3,500 people. Following the newly signed agreement, the company plans to grow its footprint further—investing in workforce development and technology to support expanded services in digital customer experience, BPO, and AI-based solutions.
Hinduja Group is one of India’s leading diversified multinational conglomerates, employing nearly 200,000 people across 38 countries. Its business interests span automotive, information technology, media and entertainment, communications, banking and financial services, infrastructure development, cybersecurity, oil and specialty chemicals, power, real estate, trading, and healthcare.
Founded over a century ago by PD Hinduja, whose guiding principle was “My duty (dharma) is to work so that I can give,” the Group has maintained a strong focus on both business excellence and social responsibility. Through the Hinduja Foundation, the Group supports a wide range of charitable and philanthropic initiatives around the world, reflecting its long-standing commitment to community welfare and inclusive growth.
