MITSUHIRO MIYAKOSHI, special advisor to Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and officer in charge of promoting the export of Japanese agricultural products, made an official visit to the Philippines from May 31 to June 2.
In a meeting with Agricultural Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, Miyakoshi discussed the lifting of regulations on products from areas affected by the March 2011 Fukushima earthquake and cited as an example that the European Union had already done the same on the said items.
Both sides also updated each other on rice production and harvest from their respective countries, as well as Japan’s possible development assistance in these areas.
Together with Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines Koji Haneda, Miyakoshi underscored in a meeting with representatives of Japanese companies in the country the importance of furthering export promotions of their agricultural products.
Miyakoshi also emphasized that the Japanese government is doing its best to increase its exports in the nearest future.
During the three-day visit, Miyakoshi led an awarding of three Philippine-based enterprises by the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro)-Manila on June 1 for selling Japanese products in their respective stores: Manpuku Steakhouse for the Japanese wagyu beef in their menu, Madison Square Marketing for promoting Japanese processed food products in the local market and Landmark for partnering with Madison Square in retailing Japanese food products in its stores.
With the increasing demand for its products in the country, Japan is eyeing a total of ¥1 trillion worth of exports to the Philippines until end of 2019. Its Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as Jetro, are working on several policies related to export promotions to facilitate the smooth flow of Japanese products to the country.