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

PHILJEC-JPECC Hold 34th Joint Meeting Celebrating 60 Years of Phil-Japan Relations

September 14, 2016by Philip Sanvictores in JPECC, PHILJEC tagged , , , ,

The Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJEC) and its counterpart, Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC) held their 34th joint meeting at the New World Hotel in Makati City last February 22-23, 2016.

To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties between Japan and the Philippines, this year’s meeting adopted the theme of “Philippines-Japan@60 Onwards,” and served as a forum for the discussion of socio-economic issues and collaborative ideas that will enable the two economies to effectively compete in the global market.

PHILJEC Chairman, Roberto Jose Castillo and JPECC Chairman, Toshiyuki Shiga welcomed key speakers and delegates from respected government institutions and private companies, which included Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary, Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Kazuhide Ishikawa among other distinguished guests.

“We are profoundly honored that this 60th Anniversary [of the establishment of normal diplomatic relations] was marked at the first month of this year by the visit to the Philippines of their Majesties: Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko,” Chairman Castillo remarked during his welcome speech.

Expounding more about the Emperor’s visit in the previous month, Castillo shared, “I, myself, was asked by His Majesty Emperor Akihito to keep helping enhance the business relations between Japan and the Philippines. In my mind and in my heart, His Majesty’s request is a most honorable command to me and to all of us in PHILJEC.”

Discussions in the meeting focused on issues affecting businesses in the Philippines and Japan: The socio-economic and monetary situation in the Philippines and Japan; the promotion of investment in automotive, electronics, power and science and technology industry in the two countries; and possible business collaborations that could help the two nations continue to be globally competitive.

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References:

PHILJEC Chairman, Roberto Jose Castillo Opening Remarks
PHILJEC-JPECC 34th Joint Meeting Program
Congratulatory Message from President Benigno Aquino III
PHILJEC-JPECC 34th Joint Meeting Photo Album
PHILJEC-JPECC 34th Joint Meeting Presentations

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