On March 3, 2025, the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC) and the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJEC) successfully held their 41^st Annual Joint Meeting with the theme “Towards Alleviating Social Problems in Japan and the Philippines through Enhanced Economic Partnerships.”

Distinguished guests and delegates were welcomed by JPECC Chairman Mr. Takehiko Kakiuchi and PHILJEC Chairman Mr. Richard Albert I. Osmond in their respective opening remarks. Congratulatory messages from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. were also read.

The meeting’s keynote address was delivered by Secretary Frederick D. Go, Special Assistant to the President on Investments and Economic Affairs. He outlined major investment priorities under the new CREATE MORE Act, which aims to attract more foreign investors by enhancing tax incentives and streamlining business regulations.

This was followed by three plenary sessions:

1. Japanese Investments in the Philippines
   1. Ms. Mari Ishizuka – General Manager, Digital Finance Dept., Financial Services Division, Mitsubishi Corporation
   1. Mr. Tereso O. Panga – Director-General, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
2. Large-Scale Food Production Imperatives for the Philippines
   1. Mr. Yodo Kawase – President & General Manager, Kubota Philippines, Inc.
   1. Dr. William D. Dar – Former Secretary of the Department of Agriculture
3. Harnessing Filipino Human Resources
   1. Mr. Tomohisa Kato – Group CEO/Founder, Zuitt, Inc.
   1. Ms. Doris Magsaysay Ho – President-CEO, Magsaysay Group of Companies

The meeting concluded with closing remarks from Mr. Kakiuchi, and PHILJEC Co-chairman Mr. Alfred V. Ty.

On March 2, prior to the Joint Meeting, the Philippine Society of Japan (PSOJ) hosted a reception at the Sakura Room of the Imperial Hotel to welcome the Filipino delegates. Mr. Mamoru Sekiyama, PSOJ Chairman, and Amb. Makoto Katsura, PSOJ President, welcomed the guests. Mr. Gerard B. Sanvictores, Vice-President of the Philippines-Japan Society, Inc. (PJS) delivered a short speech at the event and H. E. Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano proposed a toast after the speech.

On March 4, high-level meetings were also held between PHILJEC and Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), and another meeting with Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) to address vital issues impacting workforce mobility, trade, and economic cooperation between the two countries. Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and PEZA Director-General Tereso O. Panga also attended these meetings.

Lastly, PHILJEC executives and delegates paid a courtesy call on H. E. Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano at her official residence on March 5 to report on the proceedings of the March 3 and 4 meetings.

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