Philippines and Japan Forge New Paths In Clean Energy And Trade Cooperation

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual met with Japan’s Minister Saito Ken during the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting, aiming to bolster bilateral ties in clean energy, trade, and investment.

Secretary Pascual highlighted the fruitful trilateral discussions involving the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, underscoring plans to enhance existing partnerships. The focus includes advancing green initiatives, with Japan’s Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) expressing interest in collaborating on a waste-to-energy project to support the Philippines’ clean energy goals.

The Philippines, in turn, showcased its investment potential through successful initiatives like the Philippine Freeports and Economic Zones Roadshow in Osaka, promoting opportunities in the manufacturing, logistics, energy, and agriculture sectors to Japanese investors.

Building on outcomes from the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting, Secretary Pascual welcomed Japan’s OPEN Ran initiative to strengthen digital capabilities, including plans for an ORAN academy in the Philippines. Japan reaffirmed support for the Luzon Economic Corridor under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) Investment Accelerator, set to bolster industries such as electronics, semiconductors, and clean energy.

The discussion also centered on collaboration in critical minerals to fortify global supply chains, with the Philippines expressing interest in joining the Critical Minerals Agreement. Additionally, both nations are pushing for the resumption of the General Review of the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA) to broaden economic ties beyond goods trade, encompassing services, digital economy, and sustainability.