Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
March 4, 2024

“It has become a shining example of Filipino expertise contributing to the smooth flow of trade and commerce in this globalized world that we live in today. Since ICTSI came to Australia in 2014 to establish the Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), we are now seeing and delighted to do so, to watch the application of cutting-edge technology and automation in improving efficiency and productivity,” said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as he lauded the VICT for being the only fully automated container terminal in the southern hemisphere.

The President made these statements when he led the VICT’s Phase 3 expansion held in Melbourne, Victoria. It is a subsidiary of Manila-based International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI).

“This expansion we are witnessing today is a clear sign that Filipino companies can thrive in some of the most advanced economies in the world, and in the case of VICT, they are in it for the long-haul. We look forward to VICT’s astounding success and continued growth,” he added.

He further recognized the VICT for continuously supporting Filipino seafarers who constitute a large proportion of seafarers passing through its facilities, as well as the 95,000-strong Filipino community in Victoria. In particular, the VICT has supported numerous Filipino community events, including the harmonized celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence last June 2023.

“VICT is a Philippine success story, and I hope it will only be the beginning. With the Strategic Partnership that has been signed between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and myself last year, I hope to have laid the groundwork for even more success stories like this in many different sectors and possibly two-way investments to allow Australian businesses to also take part in the exciting economic prospects that we are now witnessing in the Philippines,” the Chief Executive remarked, conveying further his hopes for the Philippines-Australia economic relations to bring about mutual prosperity for both nations.

“Today, we inaugurate a facility, remotely, that will be here for years to come. This facility is built for the long-haul, akin to the partnership of our two nations. I am confident that it will be a witness to a future to be defined by closer economic cooperation and a more dynamic and fruitful collaboration between the Philippines and Australia,” President Marcos Jr. ended in his message.

The ICTSI is the world’s largest independent terminal operator across six (6) continents. It was established on December 1987 in the Philippines with its flagship operation, the Manila International Container Terminal. As its subsidiary, the VICT is the ICTSI’s first entry point to Australia. It was appointed by the Port of Melbourne in 2014 to take the lead in designing, constructing and operating the country’s first fully automated container terminal. To date, it delivers an extra 33% capacity to the Port of Melbourne, providing support to continued growth. Its location on the bay side of the West Gate Bridge paves the way for faster turnaround time for imports and exports.

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