PPA eyes partnership with Hachinohe of Japan

An official delegation from Japan recently visited Manila to coordinate arrangements with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for the proposed agreement on the establishment of a sister port affilaition between the Port of Manila and Hachinohe Port of Aomori Prefectural Government.

The delegation composed of officials from the Aomori Prefecture and Hachinohe City met with PPA General Manager Juan O. Pena, and ranking officials of the Port District of Manila. According to Toyoki Nara, who headed the delegation the Philippines proposed the establishment of a port-to-port cooperation between Hachinohe Port and the Port of Manila during the International Symposium last June 1999 in Hachinoche, a port city in Aomori Prefecture in the Honshu region at the northern tip of Japan.

The PPA said the proposal received enthusiastically by the Japanese government will surely promote not only concrete cooperation between both ports but also in the economic, social and cultural fields as well.

Pena noted the PPA "sincerely welcomes this proposed sister port affilaition as this is going to be a very important one for the future relations of the Port of Manila and Hachinohe Port, not only in terms of economic exchanges but also in the area of trade, information exchange, transfer of technology and training."

The signing of the memorandum of agreement of the sister port affiliation, will take place in Hachinohe City in August 2000 to coincide with the state visit of President Estrada to Japan.

The Japanese delegation also met with the representatives of the private sector involved in the maritime industry. They discussed, among other things, possible trade linkages in the future as well as possible economic cooperation between the Philippines and Japan.

The Japanese delegation concluded their visit with a courtesy call to Manila Mayor Jose Atienza, Jr. and Vice-Mayor Danny Lacuna During the courtesy call, the delegation expressed their wish to promote aggressive exchange programs in the areas of economic, trading and cultural projects.