Japan's Keidanren eager to invest in PHL, says Palace official

The Japan Business Federation  (Nippon Keidanren) has expressed eagerness to invest in Philippine tourism, energy, and infrastructure industries even as Malacañang underscored the country's strategic trade agreements with Japan.

 

Eighteen members of the powerful Keidanren delegation to the Philippines on Friday paid a courtesy call to President Benigno Aquino III, accompanied by the Japanese Minister for Economic Affairs, the Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, and the second secretary of the Japanese embassy. With President Aquino were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, and Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez.

 

“The President discussed with the members of the delegation possible investment areas that they may be interested in, namely infrastructure, energy and tourism and the President likewise stressed the importance of the strategic trade partnership between the Philippines and Japan,” Palace spokesperson Abigail Valte said shortly after the meeting.

 

Members of the Japan Business Federation, who met the President include Nobuo Kuronayanagi, chairman, The Bank-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd; Mutsutake Otsuka, chairman, East Japan Railway Co.; Fumiaki Watari, chairman of the board of councilors, Japan Business Federation; Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman Japan Business Federation and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd; Katsuaki Watanabi, senior adviser, Toyota Motor Corp.; Atsutoshi Nishida, chairman of the board Toshiba Corp.; Nobuo Katsumata, chairman Marubeni Corp.; and Katsutoshi Saito, chairman of the board, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

 

The Nippon Keidanren is an all-encompassing economic organization, established in 2002 following a merger between the Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Organizations) and Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of Employers' Associations).

 

As of mid-2011, the organization was listed as having 1,603 members, consisting of 1,281 companies; 127 industrial associations; and 47 regional economic organizations. — TJD/VS, GMA News