”
Lao said he looks forward to more products coming from Mindanao making inroad to the Japanese market.
Lao, owner of Mindanao-based Maharlika Agro-Marine Ventures Corp., is an exporter of pekin duck.
“The business community in Mindanao would like to congratulate the President for a very successful trip to Japan,” he said.
For his part, Davao City Investment and Promotions Center (DCIPIC) head Lemuel Ortonio said the billions worth of business deals is an indication of a good investors’ confidence for the country.
“Of course, this will strengthen the trading partnership between the Philippines and Japan. And with this more and more foreign investors will see the viability of the country as an ideal investment location,” he said.
A 20-man team composed of city officials and representatives from the economic and tourism sector here went to Japan to participate in the Davao City Investment and Tourism Roadshow held October 16-20 in Tokyo.
The delegates visited Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama and Tokyo.[]
“We are hoping we have made a good impression and that Davao City will be their top-of-mind choice for future investments,” Ortonio said.
Upon his arrival from his two-day working visit in Japan, Duterte announced Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised to “give flesh” to Japan’s assistance program worth P456 billion for the country in which “many more projects will be rolled off.” He vowed those projects would be implemented immediately.
During his business meeting with top Japanese business leaders in Tokyo, Duterte said business deals worth P309.6 billion were signed.
Duterte said they also discussed Japan’s vital support in the key infrastructure projects under his administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program that will sustain the country’s economic growth and improve quality of life.
“I am committed to work closely with him to ensure projects proceed soonest and it will be done, done, done,” he said.
Duterte also thanked Japan for reaffirming its commitment in helping pursue just and lasting peace in Mindanao, as it vowed to work with the Philippine government in rebuilding Marawi as a “center of moderation and tolerance.[]
