Networking Event for Young Filipino Entrepreneurs
Tokyo, 5 November 2015 – The Philippine Embassy, through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center/Commercial Office, organized a briefing and networking activity for members of ANVIL Business Club1, a dynamic group of young entrepreneurs and professionals promoting positive values, healthy economy and progressive society during the 1st Anvil International Japan Mission from 2-9 November 2015. Their itinerary also included visit to the Tokyo Motor Show 2015, meeting with JETRO, factory visit to KAO Corporation and tour in Hokkaido.
His Excellency Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez in his Welcome Speech described the “…many opportunities for exchange due to natural complementarities” as “…Japanese SMEs need new markets and with the Philippines consumer base of over 100 million and the country serving as a spring board to the ASEAN consumer base of 600 million, the Philippines is indeed Japan’s next-door market.”
Mr. Yasuaki Nakajima, SMRJ Marketing Support Department Manager introduced various interface programs particularly “J Good Tech” 2, an online business matching platform enabling SMEs in Japan and ASEAN to establish strategic connections in the digital age. Mr. Nakajima urged Anvil members to capitalize on up-to-date information posted on www.jgoodtech.smrj.go.jp for products and requirements of Japanese SMEs.
Fifty representatives from the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), SME Support Japan (the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industy or METI’s Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation Arm) Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (PCCIJ), Philippine National Bank, Metrobank, participated in the networking activity.
In closing, The Ambassador encouraged Japanese participants to take this opportunity to network with Anvil delegates as they are “… young, exuberant and all armed with faith in the value and returns of entrepreneurship, are ready to discuss opportunities in a multitude of sectors”
The event provided an opportunity young Filipino entrepreneurs and established Japanese businesses to develop new partnerships in various sectors such as trading, agribusiness, manufacturing, construction, real estate, garments, packaging, jewelry, health care, food and ICT.
This activity is second of SME-centric programs which the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo is launching in Japan under the 3rd pillar of Abenomics. The first one was a string of SME events organized for the recent State Visit of President Benigno Aquino III with 100+ business delegation from the Philippines.
