The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has successfully concluded a high-level investment promotion mission in Japan, strengthening ties with existing investors and unlocking new opportunities in high-value, tech-driven sectors.
Held recently, the bilateral meetings targeted leading Japanese firms in advanced manufacturing, electronics, agri-technology, construction, health tech, and legal advisory services. The mission represents a key pillar of PEZA’s ongoing strategy to secure expansion projects from existing Registered Business Enterprises (RBEs) and attract new strategic investments into the country’s economic zones.
“Japan remains one of PEZA’s most important and trusted investment partners,” said PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga. “Through this mission, we were able to reaffirm our commitment to existing Japanese locators while also opening doors for new projects in high-value manufacturing, digital services, agri-technology, and support industries.”
Among the major highlights of the mission was a strategic meeting with global materials giant Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., which is currently celebrating its centennial milestone. Co-organized with Aboitiz Economic Estates, the meeting included Shin-Etsu Magnetic Materials Division Director Mr. Hideyuki Sakashita and General Manager Mr. Naomichi Yoshimura, alongside Aboitiz representative Mr. Kazuaki Shirozono.
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Current Footprint: Shin-Etsu Magnetics operates its largest global manufacturing base in the Philippines, employing over 4,300 Filipino workers. The facility manufactures, assembles, magnetizes, and recycles rare earth and general application magnets for hard disk drives, semiconductors, optical devices, and electric vehicle (EV) components.
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Expansion Outlook: Driven by the rapid global adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, Shin-Etsu is actively exploring potential expansion opportunities in the Philippines, aligned with customer demand and local capacity.
In collaboration with top-tier Japanese law firm TMI Associates and Fair Consulting Group, PEZA engaged with E-SUPPORTLINK Ltd., an innovator in AI- and drone-based agricultural technologies.
The company is introducing real-time crop monitoring, disease detection, and productivity analysis to the Philippine agricultural landscape.
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Pilot Launch in Davao: E-SUPPORTLINK has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Agriculture (DA) XI, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) XI, and Davao-based banana producers to pilot its technology. The system aims to replace slow, manual disease detection methods with rapid, drone-based AI analysis.
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Future Operations: E-SUPPORTLINK plans to serve PEZA-registered Japanese agro-industrial locators and regional banana plantations. Crucially, the company is exploring establishing its AI data processing operations in the Philippines as an IT-BPM locator, with future plans to expand technology applications to coconut, cacao, and pineapple farming.
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Strong Bilateral Roots: PEZA highlighted that this initiative is deeply rooted in the advocacy of E-SUPPORTLINK Executive Director and Executive Vice President, Mr. Hiroyuki Fukatsu, an alumnus of the University of Tokyo who also holds a Master’s degree in Agriculture from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
Through targeted initiatives like the Japan mission, PEZA continues to position the Philippines as a premier destination for high-tech manufacturing, green technology, and digital agricultural transformation in Asia.
