Japanese defense ministry division hosted Philippine-Japan forum

October 2, 2019

The International Cooperation Division of the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Japan hosted the inaugural Philippines-Japan Defense Industry Forum in Taguig City on Wednesday.

Arsenio Andolong, Department of National Defense (DND) public affairs service chief said "the forum was attended by defense industry and government stakeholders from the Philippines and Japan to discuss and exchange opinions, information, and experiences about both countries’ policies and procedures in doing business, specifically in the procurement and export of defense equipment, material, and technologies."

In a speech DND, Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna emphasized the importance of the forum in improving the relations between Japan and Philippines.

"The inaugural Philippines-Japan Defense Industry Forum aims to promote defense equipment cooperation between our countries with the goal of contributing to each of our countries’ respective mandates and responsibilities,” Luna said.

"We, at the Department of National Defense, fully support the recent amendment of Japan’s Self-Defense Force Act that would allow the Japanese Government and its Ministry of Defense ‘the needed flexibilities’ for the Japanese military force to play ‘a greater or increased role’ in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region by exporting quality defense equipment to foreign countries, like the Philippines,” he added.

Andolong said those who attended the forum includes Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation president and CEO Steve Victor Siclot,  Assistant Defense Secretary for Logistics and Acquisitions Jesus Rey Avilla, Ministry of Defense International Cooperation Division of the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Director Hidehiko Nakama, and Philippine International Trading Corporation president and CEO Dave Almarinez.

Andolong said Luna noted that the event helps the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as it provides an opportunity for the defense acquisition system teams or technical working groups to learn and understand Japan’s defense technologies, thus expanding the “competitive alternatives for the AFP Modernization projects.”  Robina Asido/DMS