DTI’ chief engages top Japanese trading houses

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual on Monday urged top Japanese trading houses to actively participate in efforts to enhance bilateral economic and trade relations between the Philippines and Japan during a dinner meeting hosted by the Philippine Ambassador to Japan H.E. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, and organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo.

In his message during the opening session of the ASEAN-Japan Business Week (AJBW) 2023, Secretary Pascual stressed that ASEAN countries and Japan can complement each other through the presence of young and vibrant Filipino workforce that will empower Japan’s aging population and in return, Japan’s advanced technological capabilities will help the Philippines transition into an economy powered by high-tech and future-ready machineries and equipment.

“Consistent with the ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Vision which promotes the idea of ASEAN and Japan working together through complementary strengths, let us also work towards a sustainable partnership and reinforce each others’ business capabilities. Let us make this business happen in the Philippines,” Secretary Pascual said.

For their part, One Trading House executives congratulated the Secretary on the recently ratified Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement which will facilitate increased trade and investments, tariff reduction, and MSMEs’ integration to the global value chains (GVCs) in the region.

The meeting was attended by Itochu Corporation President and CEO Hiroyuki Kaizuka, Marubeni Corporation Chief Strategy Officer and Regional CEO for East Asia Kenichiro Oikawa, Sojitz Corporation COO Takefumi Nishikawa, Sumitomo Corporation General Manager Yukihito Honda, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation Deputy Chief Strategy Officer Kohei Okada.

With their long and established presence in the Philippines, sogo shoshas, or trading companies, have played a large role in the development of the country’s economy. Their diversified interests span almost the entire spectrum of economic activities from energy, infrastructure, trade, utilities, logistics, trading, real estate, industy and services, Japan’s sogo soshas are beginning to branch out its presence in the Philippines from the traditional space of trade and investment to integrated financing, logistics and commercial distribution, digitalization, green energy, environment, food security and all around pioneering technologies (electronic commerce, bio-projects and aerospace).