Subic Bay Freeport—Increased trade and cargo volume is seen as the Philippine and Japan governments mull a Manila-Subic-Osaka route for major shipping lines.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño said they are exploring cooperation possibilities in port-related business with Port of Osaka while tapping the potential of initiating cargo traffic between Osaka and Subic Bay.
“The Philippines is among the world’s fastest-growing economies with an average annual growth rate of six to seven percent per year. After diving into a slump in the growth of its Gross Domestic Product in 2022 due to Covid, we can now hope, dream, and expect to marvel at a new dawn, and proudly become an indispensable and crucial part in the financial and industrial development of international trade,” Aliño said during the Osaka Ports & Harbors Bureau Mission to the Philippines.
Aliño added that the two ports are now pursuing to develop a Manila-Subic-Osaka route with major shipping lines to increase trade and cargo volume between the Philippines and Japan, one of the country’s top trading partners.
Osaka Ports and Harbors Bureau director general Maruyama Junya cited the visit to Subic Bay Freeport as an opportunity to share information on port development, port management, and logistics, and to promote mutual exchanges.
“Osaka Port has developed as an international trade port with industrial and financial development in the Kansai area. We are working actively on further development through improving port facilities and carrying out port sales,” Junya said.
“In 2023, we have decided to focus on the Philippines, one of the Southeast Asian countries that has been developing remarkably against a backdrop of high economic growth in recent years, and organized a port sales team with Kobe-Osaka International Port Corporation and other transport companies,” he added.
He also stated that during the Philippine Investment Forum 2023 last November, a lecture and interview with Business and Investment Department for Manufacturing and Maritime manager Karen Magno “triggered our great interest in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.”
Aliño, senior deputy administrator (SDA) Ronnie Yambao, SDA Renato Lee III, maritime business manager Karen Magno, and seaport department officer-in-charge Michael Lazaro provided an extensive briefing during the visit on Thursday.
“In 2023, our cargo volume has reached to 6.4 million metric tons with lumber, tires and motor vehicles as the top commodities handled at the Port of Subic Bay, both for import and export,” Yambao said.
“By expanding our network and developing this new shipping route, we are also providing more economic opportunities that will increase our trade and cargo volume between our ports,” he added.
The port administrators and related parties from Osaka include Osaka Ports and Harbors Bureau director Takahashi Hiroshi, promotion department section chief Shiba Toshihiro, Kobe-Osaka International Port Corporation president Kido Takafumi, Osaka area chief facility section Tsuji Genta, and Osaka Port Corporation assistant manager Yamada Akiko.
Also part of the delegation are port and harbor transportation business operators such as: Sumitomo Warehouse, Co. Marine Osaka branch manager Machida Ryota; Tatsumi Shokai, Co., Ltd. general manager Teramoto Teruya, chief Asai Kei; Nissin Corporation Hanshin Marine Department deputy general manager Imoto Masaya, and deputy general manager Mori Makata; Konoike Transport Co., Ltd. general manager Kanda Shigeru; Sankyu, Inc. Osaka Branch general manager Tamura Kei; Shosen Koun Co., Ltd. group leader Okumura Kazunari; Nippon Express Co., Ltd. Osaka International Transport Branch Nanko International Office general manager Hiraoka Motonobu; and Mitsubishi Logistics Corporation Osaka Branch deputy general manager Shinichiro Nakajima.