Mindanao businessmen upbeat about Duterte’s Japan trip

DAVAO CITY – Business leaders in Mindanao are hoping the two-day working visit of President Rodrigo R. Duterte will open more opportunities for exporters in Mindanao, and encourage Japanese businessmen to invest in war-ravaged Marawi City.

Duterte left last night for Japan, his second trip to the country a year. He was accompanied by his economic team, departing from the F. Bangoy International Airport in Davao City. He is set to return Tuesday.

Mindanao Business Council (MBC) chair Vicente T. Lao said he hoped the visit of the President will improve connectivity between Japan and Mindanao to boost the trading between Japanese buyers and Mindanawon exporters.

“We hope there will be more direct flights from Mindanao to Japan so we will be able to open up our agriculture products to the Japanese market,” he said.

In a press briefing at the Malacañang Palace on October 26, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and members of Duterte’s economic team will join the Phiippine delegation “primarily because we want to reinforce the Japan-Philippines economic partnership.”

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) president Ronald Go said he wishes Duterte will draw Japanese investors to “Marawi, Davao and the rest of Mindanao.”

He noted Japan has always been a strong trading partner of the Philippines and is a “leading investor” in the country.

“As we have seen in the past, the Pres has been successful at opening new markets for our country. We wish the President well on this trip and hope he is able to bring in more investments from Japan especially for Marawi, Davao and the rest of Mindanao,” he said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, along with his wife Akie, visited the Duterte’s hometown Davao on January 13, 2017.

Bolivar said Abe will make his second visit to the Philippines to attend the 31st ASEAN Summit on November 12 - 14.