Top-level Japanese business mission in PHL Feb 4 - 7

A top-level business delegation from Japan is in the Philippines from Feb. 4 to 7 to advance bilateral economic relations.

The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry said the Japanese business mission has some 100 top executives from major companies in Japan, including members of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a network of 514 regional chambers in Japan and 79 chapters outside Japan.

 

DTI Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. said the Philippines expects to "further strengthen and expand our bilateral economic relations by increasing trade and encouraging more investments from existing and potential Japanese investors in our country.”

 

The mission includes executives from various sectors such as construction, metal manufacturing, telecommunications, trading, banking, automotive and auto parts, travel, food, air transport, and electric power.

 

Companies joining the mission include Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Marubeni Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Japan Airlines, Co., Ltd., ANA Holdings, Inc., ITOCHU Corporation, Electric Power Development Co., Ltd., Taiyo Stainless Spring Co., Ltd., The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Komoto Industry Co., Ltd., Shigeru Co., Ltd., Dial Service Co., Ltd., Idea Consultants, Inc., Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Fukuda Corporation, Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd., Sanwa Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation, JTB Corporation,  IHI Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, and Mizuho Financial Group.

 

JCCI has some 1.26 million member businesses from large and medium corporations to small and sole proprietorships nationwide, the DTI said.

 

First outbound business mission since 1992

 

He said the mission from Feb. 4 to 7, led by JCCI chairman Akio Mimura, is the first outbound business mission since 1992.

 

Mimura, the 19th chairman of JCCI, is also the former chairman and current advisor and honorary chairman of Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp.

 

During its four-day visit, the delegation will meet with business leaders and officials of the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation (PhilJec) Committee, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP).

 

Members will call on President Benigno Aquino III, and meet with officials of the DTI and Department of Finance, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

 

Also, they will meet with groups like Japan Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC) and Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc (JCCIPI). — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News