INTERAKSYON
 
The Japanese business community will field early next year its biggest trade delegation to the Philippines to date to explore more opportunities in one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
 
In a statement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) will send a delegation composed of high-ranking executives belonging to some of Japan’s biggest names in business.
 
The JCCI trade mission, which will visit from February 4 to 7, will comprise representatives from more than 100 companies, including major trading houses such as Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Sumitomo, as well as big firms like All Nippon Airways, Honda, IHI, Japan Airlines, JTB, Komatsu, Mizuho and Honda.
 
Also joining the delegation are chief executives of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from air transport, automotive and parts, banks, chemicals, electric power, food, general construction, metal manufacturing, trading, telecommunications, as well as travel and tourism.
 
“The Philippines maintained rapid economic growth for a number of years now. JCCI will send an economic mission to the Philippines in order to facilitate bilateral economic relations and to support the globalization of Japanese small and medium enterprises,” JCCI international division head Takashi Akagi was quoted as saying in the DTI statement.
 
JCCI groups 514 regional chambers of commerce in Japan and 79 overseas chapters, and brings together 1.26 million member-companies ranging from SMEs to conglomerates.
 
Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo, who met with Akagi and other JCCI executives during a visit to Tokyo last week, said DTI will co-host the “historic mission.”
 
The Philippine economy was Asia’s second fastest growing last year and is forecast to sustain its expansion through next year.