PH Ambassador to Japan Highlights Growth Trajectory and Opportunities in PH at FEC Business Forum 

TOKYO, 22 May 2023 – Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia Albano underscored the opportunities presented by the growth trajectory of the Philippines in a post-pandemic world during the FEC Business Forum organized by the International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC), in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Tokyo on 15 May 2023.

In her remarks, the Ambassador highlighted the Philippines’ consistent GDP growth performance, the strength of the Filipino workforce, and the vast market potential the Philippines offers with its sizable middle-class population, including its strategic location as Japan’s gateway to the Southeast Asian market. She invited the business participants to “ride the waves of opportunities, invest in the Philippines, and get ahead of the curve in growing (their) businesses.”

Complementing the Ambassador’s message, Commercial Counsellor Dita Angara-Mathay presented about the conducive business environment and favorable investment climate brought about by game-changing reforms in tax incentives and economic liberalization, and highlighted the Philippines’ comparative advantages with its rich talent pool, competitive human resource costs, strategic access to key markets, IT infrastructure, and intellectual property protection, among others. 

Representing FEC, Mr. Yoshiki Onoi, Vice-Chairman of FEC Japan-ASEAN Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee, and Director of Electric Power Development Co. Ltd, expressed confidence in the Philippines’ potential as an investment destination for Japanese companies, describing the Philippines as “an attractive country of outstanding economic potential.”

There were around 25 participants to the business forum, primarily C-suite officials of various companies, including start-ups, eyeing investments in the Philippines. These companies represent a broad range of industries, including medicine, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, defense, disaster response, health & beauty, business consulting, and hospitality, among others. 

Since its founding in May 1983, the International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC) has made extensive efforts to deepen interactions and mutual understanding at a private level between Japan and countries around the world, through economic, cultural, human relations and other variety of projects. END

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