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

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

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

March 27, 2023by secretariat in JPECC, PHILJEC tagged

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

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