Increased Japanese investments seen

MANILA, Philippines - Manabat Sanagustin & Co. (MS&Co.), one of the leading auditing and advisory firms in the country and an independent member firm of KPMG International Cooperative, believes the Philippines can expect a strong flow of Japanese investments this year as the country continues to emerge as an ideal investment hub and a potential relocation site of Japanese companies.

According to Endo Yoshiaki, principal of Japanese practice at MS&Co., more Japanese firms realize the advantages that the country has over its neighbors and that the country can help mitigate the risks of concentrating operations in China and Thailand.

Yoshiaki points out the Philippine’s strategic location, high literacy rate, stability of cost of labor, abundance of manpower and the hardworking nature of the Filipino workers as among the qualities that attract Japanese entrepreneurs to invest in the country.

“The country boasts of highly-skilled workers and experienced professionals that very much suit the needs of Japanese companies,” added Yoshiaki, who has been helping Japanese companies in their operations in the country for almost 10 years. “Aside from being an English-speaking nation, the country is an ideal logistics hub because of its location, the center of every Asian country.”

Yoshiaki said that the country can expect a significant increase in Japanese investments over the coming years as a number of Japanese blue-chip companies have expressed their desire to set up their factories here.

MS&Co. has a strong roster of Japanese clientele and is committed to bring in more Japanese investments, leveraging on its valued reputation and its extensive network and affiliation. In its five years of operation, the company has quickly grown to become the number two audit firm in the country.

Yoshiaki, who is handling 250 clients for MS&Co., said that most Japanese companies here are doing well not only in manufacturing but also in IT and gaming industries. The last two years, however, have been the most difficult due to natural calamities such as the tsunami of East Japan and the Thai floods, he said.

“Overall, performance of these companies is mixed. Automobile and motor companies were the hardest hit by the tsunami and Bangkok floods, but hopefully 2012 will be a better year for Japanese companies here,” Yoshiaki continued, singling out IT and automobile as among the industries that are expected to do well this year.