President Rodrigo Duterte and his delegation pose with the Filipino community in Japan at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo on Tuesday, October 25, 2016. (MNS photo)
MANILA, Oct. 25 (PNA) – The 12 deals that will be signed by Japanese and Filipino businesses during the official visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Japan will generate some 200,000 jobs in the next few years, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has said.
In a text message Tuesday, Lopez told Manila-based reporters that the commitments from Japanese companies will be in the sectors of automotive, vehicle parts, electric vehicles, shipbuilding and ship repair, biomass fuel, renewable energy, solar and energy management system, optical image stabilizers, and agriculture.
“(We’re) bullish in further strengthening trade and investments from Japan,” he said.
“Japan is our largest trading partner with over USD18 billion of total trade. We export more than we import and we have USD6.0 billion trade surplus, which is a big help to our economy.”
The trade secretary is joining President Duterte in his official trip to Japan until Thursday.
Lopez had earlier stressed the administration’s push to revitalize partnership with Asian neighbors.