This was the message expressed by Subic Technopark Corporation president Ichiro Tsuji during the courtesy call on the President yesterday of Japanese locators in Subic at Malacañang.

"We are here, Your Excellency, because we want you to hear some good news for a change. The good news is that more Japanese are thinking of locating in Subic, while some of the existing ones are planning to expand their operations in the Freeport," Tsuji said.

Tsuji said Japanese investors in Subic are happy doing their business in the Freeport due to the excellent handling of SBMA Chairman Francisco Licuanan and Administrator Alfredo Antonio.

He cited in particular the ongoing $215-million Subic port development project slated for completion in 2007, as well as the construction of an expressway linking the Subic Freeport to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

Tsuji said the port and expressway projects would "enhance the value of our investments in Subic, encourage future investment inflows, and serve as a growth catalyst in the Central Luzon region."

The Japanese delegation pledged to respond to President Arroyo’s call on exporters to make locallymanufactured products more competitive in the global market.

"We are very optimistic that we will be able to help the President because more investors and bigger business operations in Subic will mean more investments, more jobs and more economic activity for the Philippines," the Japanese delegation head said.

The investors who called on the President represented more than 30 Japanese firms now operating at the 60-hectare Subic Techno Park, a joint venture of the SBMA, Japan International Development Organization Ltd. (JAIDO), Toyo Construction Co. Ltd., Kawasho Corporation, and The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Ltd.

Antonio noted that five of the top 10 exporters and four of the 10 biggest investors in Subic are Japanese companies. Most of these firms are engaged in manufacturing freight forwarding, services, as well as estate development.

Other Japanese locators in attendance were Jun Ando, Hidemi Fujita, Toshiya Ishiba, Kenji Fukuda, Sachiko Hirano, Kazunori Iwaza, Toshihiko Kasahara, Hirofumi Kohzai, Toshihiro Miyasaka, Takashi Morimoto, Terou Nishida, Tadashi Noda, Noriyuki Noguchi, Nanako Sasaki, Kazuo Shimazaki, Michiko Takeshita, Peter Tumanda and Minoru Uchida.

According to Antonio, five out of the top 10 exporters and four of the 10 biggest investors in Subic are Japanese companies. Most of these firms are engaged in manufacturing, freight forwarding, services, as well as estate development, he added.

The Japanese investors also cited in particular the ongoing $215 million Subic port development project that is scheduled for completion in 2007, as well as the construction of an expressway linking the Subic Freeport to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.