Investments promoter Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is confident of opening the capital tap from Japan in partnership with the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee (PHILJEC).

“The Philippines and Japan’s partnership has been built on decades of economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and mutual development. Japan continues to play a crucial role in industrial growth, job creation, and innovation, especially in the country through the ecozones,” said PEZA Director General Tereso Panga.

Panga and his team joined several officials, including Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, and Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and the PHILJEC members led by Chairman Richard Albert Osmond in the mission aimed to strengthen economic collaborations between Japan and the Philippines and promote investment opportunities within PEZA-administered economic zones.

The PEZA chief joined Go and Roque in the meetings arranged by PTIC Tokyo with existing Japanese investors such as Ibiden, Nidec, and Fujifilm to assist their local operations.

The delegation also heard from various Japanese investors about their expansion plans in the country and assured them of the government’s support in facilitating and expediting the necessary permitting processes.

For his part, Panga committed to facilitating the registration of their project and assured them of the one-stop shop, non-stop shop approach being employed by PEZA.

Potential investments explored

Apart from these engagements, the PEZA delegation held separate meetings and company visits with new and prospective investors on the sidelines of the PhilJec forum.

The PEZA team met with JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company, for discussions and a plant tour at the Hekinan Thermal Power Station.

A key point of discussion was JERA’s ongoing environmental initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions while maintaining energy efficiency.

Their sustainability measures align with broader global efforts to transition toward cleaner energy sources while maintaining industrial efficiency.

During the meeting, the potential supply of fly ash from Hekinan to the Philippines was explored, particularly through PEZA-registered business enterprises such as Ichijo/HRD Group Singapore.

JERA noted that Hekinan alone could provide a steady and continuous supply of fly ash, which could be beneficial for Philippine industries that use the residue as input to their manufacturing operations.

The plant generates approximately 3,200 tons of fly ash per day and has allocated 400,000 square meters for ash disposal, ensuring stability in its supply chain. The discussion highlighted opportunities for collaboration in utilizing this byproduct to support construction and manufacturing industries in the Philippines.

The meeting also underscored JERA’s commitment to international collaboration in workforce development. Since 2023, the company has maintained a human resource exchange program with Aboitiz Power, a major Philippine energy firm.

The PEZA delegation had the opportunity to meet two Filipino personnel currently participating in this exchange, reflecting the growing cooperation between the Japanese and Philippine energy sectors.

Strengthening human resource partnerships remains a key strategy for fostering technical expertise and knowledge transfer between the two countries. In addition to this, PEZA met with Kawamura Electric Inc., a Japanese company with over 50 years of experience in manufacturing high-voltage power installations, switchboards, and circuit breakers.

The company operates seven factories and sales offices and has expanded its presence in China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore, supplying products to both government and private sector clients.

In Japan, it holds the top market share for electrical enclosures used in IT infrastructure and data centers.

Kawamura is now considering expanding into the Philippines as part of its broader regional strategy as it looks to strengthen its footprint in Southeast Asia.

The discussion also touched on the Philippines’ positive trade relationship with the United States, which is seen as an advantage for export manufacturing.