Strengthening Philippines-Japan Economic Ties: The 41st JPECC-PHILJEC Joint Meeting in Tokyo, Japan

March 25, 2025by secretariat in JPECC, PHILJEC tagged , , , ,

 On March 3, 2025, the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC) and the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJEC) successfully held their 41st 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.

Reference Materials

PHILJEC Members Attend the 50th ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand

November 12, 2024by secretariat in PHILJEC tagged , , ,

Led by Mr. Richard Albert I. Osmond, Chairman of the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc., PHILJEC delegates attended the 50th ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting (AJBM) held at The Okura Prestige in Bangkok, Thailand from November 6 to 8, 2024. This event marked a historic milestone in the partnership between ASEAN member countries and Japan. Under the theme “Building Resilient Partnerships for Sustainable Futures,” the meeting brought together prominent business leaders, and industry experts to engage in meaningful discussions and debates to explore critical issues affecting the region.

November 6 was reserved for the Steering Committee Meeting, and Welcome Reception for the Steering Committee Members which was held at the Hard Rock Café, Bangkok. The evening started with greetings and toast from Mr. Kalin Sarasin, the 50th AJBM Chairman and Honorary Chairman of the Thailand Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand. This was followed by a presentation on “Geopolitical Trends surrounding ASEAN and Japan’s Investment towards ASEAN” by Mr. SHIBATA Soichiro, Director of the Monitor Deloitte.

The conference officially began on November 7, with welcoming remarks from Mr. Sarasin. Subsequent remarks were delivered by Mr. HIRAKO Yuji, 50th AJBM Co-Chairman and Co-Chairperson of Japan-Asia Relations Committee of Keizai Doyukai; Mr. MIKE Kanetsugu, Vice Chairperson of Keizai Doyukai and Member of the Board of Directors, Chairman of MUFG; and H. E. OTAKA Masato, Ambassador of Japan to Thailand. 

H. E. Mr. Akanat Promphan, Minister of Industry of Thailand delivered the keynote speech on “Strengthening ASEAN-Japan Cooperation for Economic Stability and Sustainability in the Digital Age.” This was followed by a presentation on “Strategic Partnerships: Exploring ASEAN-Japan Relations in a Dynamic Global Context” by Dr. Somkiat Tangkitvanich, President of Thailand Development Research Institute.

The first panel discussion moderated by Mr. Muhaymin Khan, Manager of YCP focused on Food Security. This panel addressed the urgent need for action to prevent food shortages in ASEAN nations. Panelists included:

  • Dr. Poj Aramwattananont, President & CEO, SeaValue Public Company Limited
  • Mr. SAKAKURA Ichiro, President, Ajinomoto Thailand
  • Mr. Salman Ghazali, Group Chief Strategy Officer, FGV Holdings Berhad

Shortly after the lunch break, the second panel discussion focusing on Tourism commenced. Moderated by Ms. Fei Yong, Manager of YCP, this panel highlighted the role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in preserving the tourism value chain. Panelists included:

  • Mrs. Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International
  • Mr. KITAGAWA Hiroyuki, President & CEO, JTB PTE Ltd.
  • Mr. KANDA Shinya, President & CEO of ANA X
  • Mr. Joydeep Chakraborty, Chief Strategy Officer, Traveloka

A brief discussion on Food Culture in Tourism followed, led by Associate Professor Jutamas Wisansing, PhD, Managing Director & Consultant at Perfect Link Consulting Group and Mr. Matthew John Knights, Chief Hospitality Group Officer, Asset World Corporation.

The third panel discussion focused on Mobility and was moderated by Mr. Nuttapan Meethong, Director of YCP. The panel addressed the growing challenge of air pollution and its impact on public health and urban living. Panelists included:

  • Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok
  • Mr. Prasanna Kumar Ganesh, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Asia
  • Mr. Yew Heng Lim, Group Managing Director, Grab Holdings

Following this, Keizai Doyukai and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) presented on HR Platform. Speakers for this session are:

  • Mr. HIRAKO Yuji, Co-Chairperson, Japan-Asia Relations Committee, Keizai Doyukai and Senior Advisor, ANA Holdings, Inc.
  • Mr. AIZAWA Nobuhiro, Dean and Managing Director, ERIA’s School of Government
  • Mr. WATANABE Kazufumi, Group CXO, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer, SOMPO Holdings, Inc.

H. E. KIYA Masahiko, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN served as respondent.

The conference concluded with closing remarks from Mr. IMAI Seiji, Co-Chairperson of Japan-Asia Relations Committee of Keizai Doyukai and Chairman, Member of the Board of Directors of Mizuho Financial Group.

Several Thai and Japanese media were invited to a press conference after the meeting.

Discussions are compiled into a whitepaper which can be accessed through the link below.

Links:

50th AJBM Materials

PHILJEC Hosts a “Meet and Greet” Cocktail Reception

October 10, 2024by secretariat in PHILJEC tagged , , , , , ,

On September 17, 2024, the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJEC) hosted a Cocktail Reception at the Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation in Makati City, dubbed as a “Meet and Greet” in honor of the newly elected officers of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines, Inc. (JCCIPI) and the Japanese Association Manila, Inc. (JAMI).  Directors of both JCCIPI and JAMI and several officials of the Economic Section of the Embassy of Japan who were recently assigned to Manila graced the occasion.

PHILJEC Chairman Richard Albert I. Osmond welcomed the honorees and guests and expressed his enthusiasm for strengthening partnerships between Philippine and Japanese businessmen. In response, Mr. Harutaka Ishikawa, President of JCCIPI, and Mr. Kazunori Okamoto, President of JAMI expressed their gratitude to PHILJEC for hosting the event.  They reiterated their commitment in promoting economic collaboration between Japan and the Philippines, as well as in forging interpersonal friendships between Filipinos and Japanese residents in Manila. Further, Atty. Lilia B. De Lima, PHILJEC Adviser and former PEZA Director-General gifted PHILJEC with a copy of her book “Breakthrough”. Mr. Ferdinand “Perry” A. Ferrer, Co-Chairman of PHILJEC proposed a toast after which PHILJEC members and guests mingled and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

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The 40th PHILJEC and JPECC joint meeting forges stronger Japan-Philippines relations for the next decade

April 15, 2024by secretariat in JPECC, PHILJEC tagged , ,

The Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJEC) and its counterpart, the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC), held their 40th annual joint meeting on March 15, 2024, at the Grand Hyatt Manila, Bonifacio Global City. Themed “Stronger Philippines-Japan Relations in the Next 10 Years – Japan, a Strategic Partner of the Philippines”, the meeting was structured into four plenary sessions: (1) CREATE Law – Enhancing Philippine Competitiveness; (2) Large-Scale Food Production Imperatives for the Philippines; (3) Harnessing Filipino Human Resources; and (4) Triggers for Increased Japanese Investments in the Philippines. The Meeting was keynoted by BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona. Congratulatory Messages from President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio were also received.

The 40-man JPECC delegation was headed by Mr. HIRAKO Yuji, Vice-Chairman of ANA Holdings, Corporation.  A day before the Meeting, PHILJEC arranged a courtesy call by JPECC on Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and the Department of Transport Management Team composed of the Department’s five Undersecretaries.

In his welcome remarks, PHILJEC Chairman and Science Park of the Philippines Inc. President Richard I. Osmond said that “the friendship and business cooperation between Japan and the Philippines started way beyond 50 years ago” while noting that the two countries’ relations face “bigger challenges as the world is drastically changing in terms of its climate, economic and business landscape, and culture.” In his response, JPECC Chairman Hirako noted that there are now over 200,000 Filipinos working in Japan, a number that is expected to steadily increase in view of Japan’s ageing and declining population.  He expressed hope that highly skilled Filipino professionals will gain meaningful, long-term employment in Japan.

PHILJEC was established 50 years ago (1974) and has since served as the primary counterpart of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) and Keizai Douyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives). PHILJEC Chairman Osmond heads a 10-man Board assisted by his two co-Chairmen Alfred V. Ty, Chairman of Toyota Motor Philippines, Inc. and Ferdinand A. Ferrer, President CEO of Gruppo EMS and Chairman of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI).

Reference Materials

Charter Members

CHARTER MEMBERS
(1973)

1. Emilio Abello22. Benjamin Gozon43. Filemon C. Rodriguez
2. Jose M. Abello23. Domingo M. Guevara44. Ramon V. del Rosario
3. Eduardo J. Aboitiz24. Victor G. Guevara45. Sixto K. Roxas
4. Edgardo J. Angara25. Vicente R. Jayme46. Luciano E. Salazar
5. J. Antonio Araneta26. Jose S. Laurel III47. Dante Santos
6. Renato Arevalo27. Ricardo P. de Leon48. Feliciano S. Sarmiento
7. Chester G. Babst28. Dominador L. Lim49. Benjamin F. Sanvictores
8. Henry A. Brimo29. Manuel Lim, Jr.50. Jose M. Soriano
9. Jesus S. Cabarrus, Sr.30. Patricio L. Lim51. David SyCip
10. Agustin A. Cancio31. Victor A. Lim52. Bienvenido R. Tantoco, Sr.
11. Gil E. Carlos32. Miguel A. Magsaysay53. Wilfredo C. Tecson
12. Antonio A. Chuidian33. Manuel P. Manahan54. Geronimo Velasco
13. Wigberto P. Clavecilla34. Jose V. Martel55. Roberto T. Villanueva
14. Jose Concepcion, Jr.35. Hans M. Menzi56. Edgardo Villavicencio
15. Emerson Coseteng36. Pedro O. Nisperos57. Alfonso Yuchengco
16. Louise dela Costa, Jr.37. Roberto V. Ongpin58. Jose Yulo, Jr.
17. Dewey Dee38. Antolin M. Oreta59. Enrique Zobel
18. Howard Dee39. Francisco Ortigas, Jr.60. Leonardo Gonzales
19. Jose S. Fernandez, Jr.40. Carlos Palanca, Jr.61. Leonardo Sigulon Reyna
20. Julio Francia, Jr.41. Cayetano Pineda62. Cezar C. Zalamea
21. Andrew Gotianun42. Vincent L. Recto
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