PHILJEC Hosts a “Meet and Greet” Cocktail Reception

October 10, 2024by secretariat in PHILJEC tagged Cocktail Reception, Embassy of Japan, EOJ, JAMI, Japanese Association Manila, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, JCCIPI

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 40th PHILJEC-JPECC Joint Meeting, JOINT MEETING, JPECC

The Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJEC) and its counterpart, the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC), held their 40^th 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 Abello	22. Benjamin Gozon	43. Filemon C. Rodriguez
2. Jose M. Abello	23. Domingo M. Guevara	44. Ramon V. del Rosario
3. Eduardo J. Aboitiz	24. Victor G. Guevara	45. Sixto K. Roxas
4. Edgardo J. Angara	25. Vicente R. Jayme	46. Luciano E. Salazar
5. J. Antonio Araneta	26. Jose S. Laurel III	47. Dante Santos
6. Renato Arevalo	27. Ricardo P. de Leon	48. Feliciano S. Sarmiento
7. Chester G. Babst	28. Dominador L. Lim	49. Benjamin F. Sanvictores
8. Henry A. Brimo	29. Manuel Lim, Jr.	50. Jose M. Soriano
9. Jesus S. Cabarrus, Sr.	30. Patricio L. Lim	51. David SyCip
10. Agustin A. Cancio	31. Victor A. Lim	52. Bienvenido R. Tantoco, Sr.
11. Gil E. Carlos	32. Miguel A. Magsaysay	53. Wilfredo C. Tecson
12. Antonio A. Chuidian	33. Manuel P. Manahan	54. Geronimo Velasco
13. Wigberto P. Clavecilla	34. Jose V. Martel	55. Roberto T. Villanueva
14. Jose Concepcion, Jr.	35. Hans M. Menzi	56. Edgardo Villavicencio
15. Emerson Coseteng	36. Pedro O. Nisperos	57. Alfonso Yuchengco
16. Louise dela Costa, Jr.	37. Roberto V. Ongpin	58. Jose Yulo, Jr.
17. Dewey Dee	38. Antolin M. Oreta	59. Enrique Zobel
18. Howard Dee	39. 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 Pineda	62. Cezar C. Zalamea
21. Andrew Gotianun	42. Vincent L. Recto

PHILJEC Chairman Attends the 12th Asia Business Summit in South Korea

July 21, 2023by secretariat in PHILJEC tagged 12th ABS, Asia Business Summit, Keidanren

The 2023 Asia Business Summit, co-hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) and the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), brought together leaders of 11 business organizations from China, Taiwan, India, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

SPPI President & Chief Executive Officer and Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee Chairman Richard Albert Osmond represented the Philippines in the business summit.

Launched in 2010 upon Keidanren’s initiative, the Asian Business Summit serves to promote regional economic integration among Asian nations. This year’s session marks the first time in six years the event has taken place in South Korea. More details from Arirang News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adqxuBmOjAM

The PHILJEC-JPECC 39th Joint Meeting Successfully Held in Tokyo, Japan

March 27, 2023by secretariat in JPECC, PHILJEC tagged JOINT MEETING

On March 2, 2023, the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJEC) and its counterpart, the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC), gathered at the Tokyo Kaikan for their 39th Joint Meeting. The 38th Joint Meeting in 2021 was conducted online due to the pandemic, thus making this year’s topic a very timely one: “Deepening the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership in post Covid-19.”

The event was attended by honorable and prestigious diplomats, representatives, and business figures from both Japan and the Philippines. These guests were warmly welcomed by Mr. Teruo Asada, Chairman of JPECC, and Mr. Gerard B. Sanvictores, Chairman of PHILJEC, in each of their opening remarks. The congratulatory message of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was read by H.E. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines. The Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan, H.E. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, delivered her message on behalf of the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The Secretary-General of JPECC, Mr. Kazuto Sasaki, acted as the master of ceremonies. Ms. Maria Bernardita A. Mathay, Commercial Counsellor and Special Trade Representative of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), delivered the keynote address on behalf of Secretary Alfredo Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Three plenary sessions were held this year. The first session was moderated by Ms. Yurika Suzuki, a Senior Research Fellow at the Development Studies Center, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO). It focused on “Trade and Investment Promotion” and was presented by the following speakers:

Mr. Yuji Munehiro – Executive Officer, Executive Manager, Global Business Promotions Dept., Global Business H.Q., Chodai Co., Ltd.
Mr. Richard Albert I. Osmond – President & COO, Science Park of the Philippines, Inc.; Co-Chairman, The Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc.

The second session was moderated by Mr. Hisashi Ichikawa, Chief Manager of the JTB Corporation and focused on the topic of “Tourism and Mutual Exchange” through the presentations of the following:

Dr. Maria Christina G. Aquino – Former Chairperson, Tourism Industry Board Foundation, Inc. (TIBFI)
Mr. Luis Alberto A. Anastacio – President and Chief Executive Officer, Servicio Filipino, Inc.

The last plenary session, which revolved around “Sustainability,” had Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores, Executive Chairman of Netmarks Philippines, Inc. as moderator, and the following as speakers:

Mr. Ferdinand A. Ferrer – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gruppo EMS Inc.; Trustee, The Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJEC)
Mr. Tsuyoshi Teragaki – Executivve Officer, COO, Forest Products Div., Marubeni Corporation
Mr. Hiromi Aoki – President, Suntech Co., Ltd.

Chairman Sanvictores and Chairman Asada each delivered their closing remarks after the plenary sessions and thanked all the participants for a meaningful Joint Meeting. The attendees then continued to enjoy a delicious welcome dinner hosted by JPECC.

On March 1st, the day prior to the Joint Meeting, a reception was organized by the Philippine Society of Japan (PSOJ) at the Sakura Room of the Imperial Hotel to welcome the PHILJEC delegates and Filipino members of the Philippines-Japan Society, Inc. (PJS). Mr. Mamoru Sekiyama, Chairman, and Mr. Makoto Katsura, President, respectively of PSOJ, welcomed the guests. Mr. Francis C. Laurel, President of PJS delivered a short speech at the event and H.E. Ambassador Mylene Garcia-Albano, who proposed a toast after the said speech.

To view the presentations, speeches, and documents relating to the 39th PHILJEC-JPECC meeting, please refer to our Resources below:

Program/Agenda

PHILJEC Chairman Mr. Gerard B. Sanvictores Welcome Remarks

JPECC Chairman Mr. Teruo Asada Welcome Remarks

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Congratulatory Message

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Congratulatory Message (signed message with official Photo)

Ambassador Mylene Garcia-Albano Congratulatory Message

Plenary Session Presentations

JPECC Welcome Dinner

Photo Album