Japanese investors likely to invest in Cebu via PPP

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government has gained the interest from Japanese investors for the possibility to do business in Cebu.

Benjamin Joseph Yap, head of the Cebu Investment and Promotions Center, said the Cebu delegation to Japan led by Governor Hilario Davide III made a pitch on the viability of public-private partnership (PPP) investments in Cebu.

Capitol officials including Yap visited Japan early this month to woo businesses there to invest in Cebu's growing economy.

"We've been establishing links with Japan's two cities (Yokohama and Saitama Prefecture) as they offer lots of business opportunities either for PPP or companies who would come here to put up shop," Yap told The FREEMAN in an interview on Tuesday. 

Yap said there were able to talk to 14 companies in Yokohama and 11 in Saitama Prefecture.

Through these talks, Yap said, the provincial government was able to establish awareness among Japanese companies on investment opportunities in Cebu.

These firms are into manufacturing, electronics, engineering and recycling, among others, he noted.

"We are hoping several companies will enter here," he said, adding that investments of these firms will surely generate employment for the locals and spur the local economy.

Yap, however, could not quantify yet the value of these potential investments until these Japanese firms will start to locate here.

Among the potential locators, he said, are manufacturing firm and companies engaged in hydro power generation, solid waste management, recycling, waste water management and in infrastructure developments. (FREEMAN)