Aquino leaves for Japan

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino departed Sunday morning for Japan for an official working visit highlighted by meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, businessmen and Emperor Akihito.

“We’re coming off successful trips to other countries. In August, we went to China, and just last week to the United States. These are signs not only of our improving foreign relations, but of other countries’ increasing confidence in the Philippines,’’ Mr. Aquino said in his departure speech. “Now we’re traveling to Japan to further boost relations between our two countries. ‘’

In his three-day trip, Mr. Aquino will meet with Noda and Japanese investors, and Akihito.

“A flurry of meetings with Japanese investors has been lined up. We will take the opportunity to further encourage them to invest in the country. We will introduce the rich potential of more than 7,000 islands, and a new Philippines that is more conducive for business,’’ he said.

Building peace with Moro rebels was the primary purpose of his unannounced visit here last month but this time, President Aquino returned mainly to do some business.

The President took a low-key trip to Japan in August to meet with Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in an effort to boost on-and-off peace negotiations with the secessionist Muslim group.

On Tuesday, Mr. Aquino will meet with top business leaders at Imperial Hotel, where he is also staying. Expected at the meeting are representatives of Toyota Motor Corp., Terumo Corp., Marubeni Corp., Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd., Mitsui & Co. Ltd., and the Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.

The President will present his administration’s socioeconomic policy at the Philippine Economic Forum at 2:45 p.m. He will also sit down with officials of the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee and the Japan and Tokyo Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Flower export deal

Trade officials are upbeat he would bring home some $1 billion in fresh investments from a country that historically has been one of the Philippines’ biggest economic partners and aid donors.

“In the area of investments, Japan continues to be one of our biggest investors, if not the biggest investor,” said Mauino Haresco, commercial counselor of the Philippine Embassy in Japan.

According to Haresco, the investment package on the table includes a flower export deal possibly taking off in March next year and tapping the $7-billion Japanese market. At least one Japanese company will be entering into a joint venture agreement with Filipino farmers based in Mindanao, he said.

Haresco said the Philippines could also venture into Japan’s thriving okra industry, but said potential exporters must be conscious of the Japanese preference for okras that are only an inch and a half in length. They also like to eat the vegetable raw, he noted.

“If it grows more than that, (for them) it’s not okra anymore and they will not eat it,” the official explained.

Major manufacturing center

Haresco also said a Japanese company would soon make a “big announcement” concerning the Philippines being a major manufacturing center for smart phones. “It’s going to be the biggest platform of this particular company outside of Japan,” he said.

A Japanese car company would soon expand production and tap the Philippines as a major collaborator, while another investment would be in the energy sector, he added.

“In fact, Japanese companies have brought bidding documents for the coming PPP (public-private sector partnership) projects announced by the Philippines,” he said.

The Aquino administration is also targeting Japan’s so-called “graying society” as a Philippine tourism market.

Valentino Cabansag, the Philippine Embassy’s tourism attaché, said the country’s popular beaches and tropical climate would be a good come-on for aging Japanese citizens.

Graying population

“When it’s very cold in Japan during winter time, that’s when they get sick, high blood pressure and all,” he said. “We are just four hours away. They can immediately come to the Philippines. It’s affordable.”

“They could stay with us for three nights, four days or (up to) a week,” he said. “These people have more time (for leisure), and I think our country is the best place for them.”

Of the current Japanese population of 127 million, 23 percent are said to be 65 years old and above.