PH Embassy Calls for Bolstering PH-Japan Economic Cooperation in dialogue with Japan Business Federation

Philippine Chargé d’Affaires to Tokyo Robespierre L. Bolivar delivers his remarks during the meeting between Keidanren and the ASEAN Embassies in Tokyo. (Tokyo PE photo)

TOKYO, 15 November 2021 – In a policy dialogue between Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) and ASEAN Embassies in Tokyo on 12 November 2021, Philippine Embassy in Japan Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) Robespierre Bolivar called for the strengthening of cooperation between the Philippines and Japan in a number of areas, including post-COVID-19 economic development, digital technology, and climate change resilience.

In his remarks during the meeting, CDA Bolivar noted that the Philippines considers “ASEAN as its family and Japan as a friend closer than a brother, and these strong ties make us natural partners”. 

He thanked the Keidanren for the recent publication of its policy paper on strengthening ASEAN-Japan cooperation and remarked that the Philippines looks forward to working with the Japanese business sector in promoting ASEAN integration and connectivity. “The areas identified by Keidanren on cooperation, co-creation and new growth areas converge with the Philippines’ major economic programs, specifically on infrastructure, trade and investment, climate change, disaster risk reduction and management, and digital transformation,” added CDA Bolivar.

Keidanren is a comprehensive economic organization with a membership of 1,444 representative companies of Japan, 109 nationwide industrial associations and regional economic organizations for all 47 prefectures.

The organization recently published a policy paper on “Japan-Relations in the New Era: Towards A Realization of a Sustainable Society Through Cooperation and Co-creation,” a compilation of the organization’s observations and proposals on how to enhance relations with ASEAN countries.  It reflected the heightened interest of the Keidanren members on engaging ASEAN as a region.

Keidanren is a co-organizer of the Philippine Embassy in Japan and the Department of Trade and Industry’s upcoming Virtual Economic Briefing on “SDGs:  A Philippines-Japan Partnership” scheduled on 24 November 2021. The Commercial Section of the Philippine Embassy facilitated the participation of Mr. Hideyuki Tanaka, Keidanren Chair of the Subcommittee on ASEAN Economic Relations and Managing Executive Officer of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited as a Japan Panel Keynote Presenter at the event. END

Philippine Chargé d’Affaires to Tokyo Robespierre L. Bolivar exchanges views with Keidanren officials. (Tokyo PE photo)

KEIDANREN (Japan Business Federation) and ASEAN Embassies in Tokyo meeting. (Tokyo PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.tokyo.philembassy.net or https://www.tokyope.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJapan/.