THREE Japanese companies have expressed plans to establish presence in the Philippines for the first time, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
PEZA in a statement on Thursday said the expressions of interest were gathered during a mission to Japan on March 3 to 6.
PEZA identified the firms as JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company; Kawamura Electric Inc., which has more than 50 years of experience in manufacturing high-voltage power installations, switchboards, and circuit breakers; and FRP Services & Company Japan, a global manufacturer and trader of composite materials, including fiberglass-reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, and advanced resins.
JERA
PEZA said JERA eyes the potential supply of fly ash from its Hekinan thermal power station in central Japan through PEZA-registered business enterprises, such as Ichijo/HRD Group Singapore.
During the meeting, PEZA said, the discussion highlighted opportunities for collaboration in utilizing this byproduct to support construction and manufacturing industries in the Philippines.
PEZA said Hekinan alone could provide a steady and continuous supply of fly ash, which could be beneficial for Philippine industries that use the residue as input to their manufacturing operations. The plant generates approximately 3,200 tons of fly ash per day and has allocated 400,000 square meters for ash disposal, ensuring stability in its supply chain, PEZA said.
Kawamura
PEZA said Kawamura Electric is now considering expanding into the Philippines as part of its broader regional strategy to strengthen its footprint in Southeast Asia.
It said the discussion also touched on the Philippines’ positive trade relationship with the United States, which is seen as an advantage for export manufacturing.
Kawamura operates seven factories and sales offices and has expanded its presence in China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore. In Japan, it holds the top market share for electrical enclosures used in information technology infrastructure and data centers.
FRP
PEZA said its meeting with FRP Services opened possible collaborations in establishing a footprint at the TECO Industrial Park – Special Economic Zone, where FRP will cater to the requirements of its big client locator company in the Cavite Economic Zone, particularly for fiberglass-reinforced particle boards.
Japan remains the top source of foreign direct investments in ecozones where 800 Japanese locators have generated more than P500 billion in investments and provided direct jobs to more than 343,000 Filipinos.
