Ambassador ENDO Kazuya attended the commissioning of submarine cable maintenance vessel VEGA II on March 27, 2025, celebrating both the vessel launch and NTT WE Marine’s 25th anniversary in the Philippines.
During his address, Ambassador Endo emphasized the critical importance of submarine cables: “Supporting key tech from telephones to the Internet, submarine cables are an integral part of our modern society; with many facets of businesses and daily life dependent on undersea cable infrastructure. For island nations such as Japan and the Philippines, submarine cables are especially essential. Undersea cables connecting our two countries are arguably one of the most important bonds between our two nations.”
The ambassador highlighted the VEGA II, a major investment of NTT WE Marine, as a modern example of Japan and the Philippines’ shared ventures and its significance as a Philippine-flagged vessel: “Reflecting our countries’ resolute bond, I am proud to witness a company that greatly embodies Japan’s advanced technological capabilities create jobs for Filipinos. It merits much praise that stable telecommunications in the Philippines are safeguarded by Philippine-flagged vessel mostly operated by Filipinos.”
Ambassador Endo concluded: “By honing capacity building in telecommunications infrastructure, we can achieve a greater level of trust and reliability in an increasingly interconnected world.”
The event included a ship tour at the Port of Manila followed by a reception at the Manila Hotel.
