JPEPA's "pillar" committee meets for the first time

MANILA, June 17 (PNA) -- Infrastructure issues, border measures and how the 18-month old Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) has been operating were on Monday’s first-ever meeting of its Sub-Committee on the Improvement of the Business Environment, according to the Japanese embassy in Manila.

Monday’s meeting also agreed to convene the various Consultative Groups, which were also established under JPEPA in early July, but the dates have not been finalized.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Peter Favila and Japanese ambassador to Manila Makoto Katsura chaired the meeting held at the DTI in neighboring Makati City.

The Sub-Committee on Improving Business Environment is one of the most important pillars in the JPEPA in fostering enhanced economic interactions between Japan and the Philippines.

Representatives of various departments and agencies of the Philippine Government, the Embassy of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and representatives from business circles were in attendance.

Among them were Yasuhiko Arimitsu, President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc. and Ambassador Donald G. Dee, Chairman Emeritus of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

”Amid the current global economic crisis, it was hoped that such efforts would lead to the real improvement of business environment and thus to the enhanced business interactions between the two countries, including the facilitation for future investments,” the embassy said.