High-level economic delegation off to Tokyo

A high-level delegation led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez is set to visit Tokyo next week to discuss with Japanese officials a list of proposed Philippine infrastructure projects for possible funding assistance.

The meeting, which will be held from March 27 to 28, will be the first session of the Joint Committee on Philippines-Japan Infrastructure and Economic Cooperation.

Hiroto Izumi, special advisor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, extended the formal invitation to Dominguez and asked him to co-chair the joint committee following Abe’s state visit to the Philippines last January.

Prime Minister Abe committed during his visit to Davao City last January a total of ¥1 trillion in official development assistance and investments to the Philippines for the next five years.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the delegation is expected to discuss with Japanese officials the Philippines’ recently-approved medium term development plan and provide updates on the country’s macroeconomic situation during the meeting.

Dominguez and his team will also present a list of potential infrastructure projects for possible Japanese financing support to officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, as well as the Japanese Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Health, Labor and Welfare; Finance; Economy, Trade and Industry; Internal Affairs and Communications; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and Land Infrastructure and Transport.

Possible cooperation agreements in the areas of infrastructure, energy, environment and agriculture, disaster prevention, information technology, human resource development, support for Mindanao and public safety – including counterterrorism and anti-illegal drugs campaign – will also be up for discussion during the visit.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vivencio Dizon, Transport Undersecretary Cesar Chavez and Philippine Embassy in Tokyo Charge d’Affaires Eduardo Martin Meñez will join the delegation.