PCCI to meet Japan biz group

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is set to meet with the 25-man delegation of the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren) of Japan today to discuss cooperation in the areas of technologies for low-carbon industries as well as building disaster-resilient cities. 

PCCI president Alfredo Yao said in a statement the delegation is led by Masayuki Matsushita, vice-chaiman and chairman of the international committee of Kankeiren and vice chairman of the board of Panasonic Corp.

The delegation is composed of senior level executives representing the following: Kyoei Steel Ltd., Itochu Corp., Sojitz Corp., Sumitomo Corp., Daikin Industries, Ltd., Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Obayashi Corp., Panasonic Corp., Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Corp., Marubeni Corp., Hitachi Zosen Corp., Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd., Takenaka Corp., and Urban Infrastructure Technology Center Foundation.

During the meeting, the PCCI will be presenting programs on environment and disaster management as well as on the energy sector.

Kankeiren, a non-profit economic organization based in the Kansai region in Japan, represents 1,400 businesses and organizations.

It seeks to promote Kansai as an attractive location for business as well as strengthen the region’s links with other countries. 

Yao noted that about 23 percent of foreign direct investments of Kansai-based firms went to Southeast Asian countries, mostly in manufacturing and commerce.

The PCCI is working with organizations in other parts of the world in hosting business missions in the Philippines.

This, as the business group wants to encourage partnerships between local and foreign firms as well as to attract more foreign companies to make investments to create jobs in the country.

Yao said earlier the PCCI is promoting the Philippines as a potential hub in the region to foreign firms and the group’s partner business councils in other countries.