Philippines - Japanese Business Leaders Push Cooperation

MANILA, Philippines — Visiting top Japanese business leaders are pushing for concrete ways of cooperation with the Philippines on infrastructure, power situation, regional economic integration and development plans.

This was expressed during the visit of the Keidanran (Japan Business Cooperation), an umbrella organization of Japan’s key business conglomerates and industry associations, who is on a three-nation visit in ASEAN. The Philippines is their last stop after visiting Vietnam and Malaysia.

“They are looking for concrete ways of cooperation. This shows strong interest in the Philippines,” said Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. after meeting with the 17-man Keidanren mission.

For instance, Cristobal said, the meeting discussed concerns on infrastructure development, on power situation, and the regional economic integration of ASEAN.

During the meeting, DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo gave an update on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. Domingo also informed the visiting Japanese businessmen of the government’s programs for power generation build-up, particularly on building more power capacity in Mindanao.

On the PPP, the Japanese businessmen inquired on the bidding processes, the modified rules, transparency and fair conduct of bidding.

“They are going to participate in the PPP and this will further strengthen the business climate and further increase Japanese investments in the country,” he said. The Japanese is the country’s number one source of foreign direct investments.

The Japanese also expressed support for the general review of the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, especially on the movement of natural persons.

The Japanese are also interested in the services sector as they need nurses and caregivers.

Cristobal said that Keidanren supports the Philippine position that the government examinations given to Filipino caregivers be conducted in the mother tongue.

“We asked that the exams have English translation and they are supportive of that so this is a recognition on the value of our caregivers,” he said.

On regional economic integration, the Japanese have been enthusiastic of the ASEAN+ 6 regional partners.

“We also informed them that the Philippines is interested in joining the Trans Pacific Partnership and we are doing studies and consultations,” Cristobal said.

With the full economic integration of ASEAN by 2015, the Japanese would like to get a perspective on how to create a seamless business environment within the region in terms of infrastructure and systems.

The mission also shared its perspectives with regards to the pathway towards achieving the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP), such as the TPP and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA), and the development of the key wide area infrastructure in the Greater Mekong Subregion and island areas in ASEAN for the development of concrete actions.

The 17-man Keidanren mission is chaired y Yonekura Hiromasa, chairman of the Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.

BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

mb.com.ph

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