PH Consulate General in Nagoya Fosters Closer Ties with Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture Governor Hajime Furuta (left) and Consul General Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat (right) exchange gifts: a Quincentennial Commemorative basket containing products from the Philippines and indigo-dyed fabric from Gujo Hon-Zome, a business designated as a Gifu Prefecture important intangible cultural asset. (Nagoya PCG photo)
NAGOYA 26 August 2022 — Philippine Consul General in Nagoya Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat and Gifu Prefecture Governor Hajime Furuta explored areas of cooperation between Gifu Prefecture and the Consulate General, and discussed tourism promotion and partnerships between Gifu and local government units in the Philippines in a meeting 25 August 2022.
Governor Furuta previously visited the Philippines as an APEC official from Japan and subsequently in his capacity as Gifu Governor. He acknowledged the contribution of Filipinos to the economy and cultural diversity in Gifu. Filipinos account for the biggest number of foreign residents (24% in 2021) and second largest number of foreign workers (23%) in the prefecture.
Following a brief tour at the Ibiden Co. Ltd. plant in Ogaki City, the Consulate team met with their President and CEO Takeshi Aoki who reaffirmed the importance of Ibiden’s operations in the Philippines, the company’s largest and most important overseas investment in Asia. They also met with Filipino trainees in the said plant.
Ibiden confirmed its plans to expand the number of Filipino trainees to be deployed to Ibiden Japan and its affiliated companies in engineering and construction, food processing, automobile parts production, industrial gas logistics, etc.
“Ibiden is a shining example of a successful Japanese investment in the Philippines. Its use of the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is a win-win arrangement which has provided Filipino interns an opportunity to earn and learn while in Japan and return to the Philippines with more experience, greater technical knowhow, and better job prospects at IPI”, said Consul General Balatbat.
Consul General Balatbat and Consul Fernando Beup, Jr., together with the Consulate Team, also attended a get-together with members of the Filipino community in Ogaki City. Discussions include Information on the services being offered by the Philippine Consulate General in Nagoya as well as other queries and concerns of the Filipino community. END
Mr. Takeshi Aoki (4th from right), Mr. Koji Kawashima (3rd from left) with Consul General Balatbat (4th from left) and Consul Fernando Beup, Jr. (3rd from right), as well as the IPI tech trainees.
Consul General Balatbat and Consul Beup together with the Filipino Community in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture.
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