Romualdez assures Japan: PH policy reforms would improve business climate

House of Representatives. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has assured the Japanese ambassador to the Philippines that the policy reforms that the administration will institute are expected to improve the business climate in the country.

Romualdez said this on Tuesday, after Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko and his team paid a courtesy call at the House of Representatives, where the two officials discussed several matters, including the strong bilateral relations between Manila and Tokyo.

“It’s really great that Japan remains and has been one of the country’s foremost trade, investment and development partner for a very long time,” the Speaker said in a statement.

“Through strategic policy reforms, we will improve the business climate in the Philippines to attract more direct investments from Japan,” he added.

Aside from Koshikawa, other officers of the Japanese Embassy were also present, including the following:

• Kuronuma Kenji, Senior Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
• Akihiko Hitomi, First Secretary
• Yukari Koike, Political Officer

Romualdez said that Japan is a vital trading partner of the Philippines, with total trade in 2021 amounting to US$21.83 billion — up by 17.1 percent compared to numbers in 2020.

This also makes Japan the country’s second-largest trading partner.

The House leader also thanked the country as it was among the first to extend help to the country after the Magnitude 7.0 Abra earthquake last July 27, through JICA.

“We deeply appreciate the aid provided and acknowledge the strong cooperation with Japan on humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” he said.

Another topic discussed during the talks was the untimely demise of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated near a train station at Nara City last July 8.

Recently, the House passed resolutions offering the sincerest condolences of the House for the people of Japan regarding Abe’s passing.

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