SEVERAL Japanese firms have expressed interest in expanding their Philippine operations, following the Philippine Economic Zone Authority’s (PEZA) second investment mission to Japan from May 30 to June 11, conducted with Science Park of the Philippines Inc. (SPPI).
SPPI is one of the leading developers of private ecozones in the country. It hosts international locators from the Fortune 1000 and Forbes Global 2000 lists, and has earned a reputation for well-planned parks, world-class infrastructure, and sustainable features. Its aggregate land area spans nearly 1,500 hectares.
As of 2025, PEZA hosts 744 Japanese investor companies with over P840 billion in cumulative investments and more than 300,000 direct jobs.
Its recent mission built on momentum from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent state visit to Japan, where PEZA-registered locators announced expansion projects worth roughly P60 billion, expecting to generate around 10,300 jobs.
Among the firms PEZA met with, Yamaichi Electronics presented expansion plans including a new facility in SPPI’s Light Industry and Science Park (LISP) IV in Batangas, targeted for completion by the second half of 2028.
Ajinomoto discussed plans to add facilities in Tarlac, while Taiyo Yuden discussed future expansion plans in the country.
Tamiya Corp., which operates its only global manufacturing facility in the Philippines, reaffirmed confidence in the country as a manufacturing base.
PEZA and SPPI officials also met with representatives of photographic equipment firm Kenko Tokina, metal products company KAPCO Manufacturing, logistics firm Daito Corp., semiconductors company Yamaichi Electronics, among others, with talks covering expansion, logistics support, and investment opportunities in PEZA ecozones.
The forums and roundtable discussions spanned manufacturing, electronics, medical devices, automotive, and agribusiness.
“Japan remains one of PEZA’s most important and longstanding investment partners. This mission allowed us to directly engage existing and prospective investors, respond to their expansion requirements, and present new opportunities in our ecozones,” PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said.
