AABOT sa US$13-bilyon ang ilalagak na puhunan ng mga Japanese corporation sa Filipinas na lilikha ng 24,000 trabaho ang iniulat na bitbit ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., mula sa kanyang limang araw na official trip sa Japan.
“Key private sector representatives were with me and engaged with Japanese industry giants to seize the economic opportunities now present in the Philippines. Coming back, we carry with us over USD 13 billion in contributions and pledges to benefit our people, create approximately 24,000 jobs, and further solidify the foundations of our economic environment,” sabi ng Pangulo sa kanyang arrival statement sa Villamor Airbase sa Pasay City kagabi.
Nangako, aniya, ang Japan na magkakaloob ng development loans para sa North South Commuter Railway para sa Malolos-Tutuban at sa North South Commuter Railway Project Extension na nagkakahalaga ng JPY 377 bilyon o US$3 bilyon.
Ipinagmalaki ng Pangulo ang makasaysayang bilateral meeting nila ni Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida na aniya’y “bound by shared values and common aspirations for our peoples.”
“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,” anang Pangulo.
Pinagtibay ng Filipinas at Japan ang relasyon sa larangan ng deoensa at seguridad, agrikultura, at information and communications technology (ICT) sa paglagda sa mga bilateral agreement na nagbigay ng “framework for enhanced mutually-beneficial collaborations in many areas.”
Kaugnay nito, nilagdaan ng negosyanteng si Manny Pangilinan at major Japanese investor Mitsui & Co., ang kasunduan na mag-commit ng US$600 milyong dolyar para sa infrastructure development sa Filipinas.
“We signed an agreement with Mitsui and several parties and management to commit to investing $600 million in the infrastructure,” sabi ni Pangilinan sa isang dinner sa Tokyo kasama si FM Jr.
Nais ng Mitsui & Co., mamuhunan sa priority sectors ng administrasyong Marcos partikular sa agriculture, infrastructure, at renewable energy. (ROSE NOVENARIO)