MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to Manila Sunday evening from a five-day official journey to Japan bringing residence USD13 billion value of funding pledges that may assist enhance the financial system and generate round 24,000 jobs for Filipinos.
Marcos, who was in Tokyo from Feb. 8 to 12, stated the pledges had been reached throughout roundtable conferences with enterprise leaders and potential traders the place he briefed them on the Philippines’ improved enterprise local weather and funding surroundings.
“Coming back, we carry with us over USD13 billion in contributions and pledges to benefit our people, create approximately 24,000 jobs and further solidify the foundations of our economic environment,” he stated in his arrival speech on the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
He stated key personal sector representatives, who had been a part of the enterprise delegation, engaged with Japanese business giants to grab the financial alternatives now current within the Philippines
Marcos stated his journey to Tokyo allowed him to additionally speak to chief government officers (CEOs) of Japanese transport corporations and associations, which was necessary as Japan is the second largest maritime business on the planet and so they make use of at the very least 31,673 Filipino seafarers.
“That number constitutes 70 percent of the maritime crew of the Japanese ship owners and the Japanese shipping companies also have investments and long-term partnerships with Philippine stakeholders in maritime education and welfare programs,” he added.
Fruitful conferences
Meanwhile, Marcos described his assembly with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as “very fruitful” because the Philippines and Japan are sure by “shared values” and “common aspirations.”
“We committed to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan and mapped out a transformative future-oriented partnership that is responsive to new developments,” Marcos stated.
He stated he and Kishida additionally cemented the 2 nations’ protection and safety relations and lined an excessive amount of floor within the areas of agriculture, and data communications know-how (ICT) cooperation by way of the signing of bilateral agreements that present the framework for enhanced and mutually helpful collaboration.
Marcos stated Japan dedicated to offering infrastructure growth loans for 2 main projects-the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) for Malolos-Tutuban and the NSCR Project Extension-which quantity to 377 billion Japanese yen or about USD3 billion.
“The completion of these projects, along with other ongoing large-scale official development assistance (ODA) projects such as the Metro Manila Subway project and many more across the country are expected to translate to better lives for Filipinos through improved facilitation of the movement of people, goods and services,” he added.
Likewise, Marcos stated he was honored to have an imperial viewers with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan to reaffirm the shared dedication to reinforce the shut friendship and cultural ties between Manila and Tokyo.
Marcos stated it was additionally a pleasure for him to talk earlier than abroad Filipino staff in Japan and reassure them of ongoing efforts to create extra job alternatives within the Philippines “so that working abroad will become a career choice and not the only option available to them.”
“I told them that we are working doubly hard to enact policies to forge partnerships that will make our economy more competitive and attractive to foreign investors and to entrepreneurs,” he stated.
In closing, he stated his official journey confirmed that the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan has “withstood the test of time.”
He additionally expressed confidence that ties between the 2 nations are “poised for a new decade of mutual trust, support, and benefit.” (PNA)