05 February 2015 -  The new head of the Japanese Consular Office in Makassar, Consul Masaki Tani, visited Philippine Consul General in Manado Jose D.R.Burgos, on February 02, giving both officials an opportunity to discuss recent developments in their countries’ fisheries industries and investments in Indonesia. Also discussed were the number of Filipino and Japanese citizens in East Indonesia, security and consular matters, travel, business and trade facilitation, as well as issues related to the Philippines-Indonesia maritime border and the recent signing of the Philippines-Indonesia Agreement Concerning the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone on May 23, 2014.

The Consul General also briefed Consul Tani of the active trade between North Sulawesi and Southern Mindanao, particularly in fish, coconut, oil, corn, and agricultural products from North Sulawesi to Mindanao, and for processed goods from Davao and General Santos cities. The Consul General also took the opportunity to inform the Japanese Consul of the Philippine Consulate General’s efforts in promoting people and trade ties through the forging of a direct Manado-Bitung-Davao Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) link and direct flights between Manado and Davao. The Consul General further suggested that the planned shipping and air links between Southern Philippines and North Sulawesi could present an opportunity to Japanese businessmen in North Sulawesi, allowing access to Southern Philippines, as well as closer proximity to the markets of Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Consul General Burgos also urged the Consul to consider greater Japanese investment in Davao City, and invited the Consul to visit Davao city at the soonest opportunity.

The Philippine Consulate General in Manado and the Japanese Consulate in Makassar are the only two consular posts in the entire Sulawesi Island and in Eastern Indonesia, and cooperate in trade, business and cultural matters. END