In photo: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Acting Secretary Cristina A. Roque, and Food Merchandising Division, AEON Retail Co., Ltd. Managing Executive Officer, General Manager Mr. Nobuyasu Nanao

Tokyo, Japan—Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Acting Secretary Cristina A. Roque engaged executives from AEON Retail Co., Ltd., Japan’s largest retailer, in a meeting held on September 12. This meeting focused on exploring opportunities for increased Philippine exports to Japan and potential investments by AEON in the Philippine market.

Secretary Roque highlighted the Philippines’ growing economy and its potential as a key player in the global food industry. She urged AEON to consider further investments in the Philippine market.

“The Philippines is rapidly emerging as a dynamic player in the global food industry. Our large and growing consumer base makes the food sector a critical engine of economic growth.  We thank AEON for its steady importation of fresh fruits and vegetables from the Philippines and welcome its great interest to diversify its sourcing portfolio to include more processed and value adding products from our SMEs,” said the trade chief.

“Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we are committed to integrating more Filipino products into the global value chain. The ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ we envision is one that proudly showcases Filipino craftsmanship on the world stage,” she added.

AEON Retail Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the AEON Group, is a leading player in Japan’s retail sector, managing the general merchandise store business that accounts for a significant portion of the Group’s operating revenue.

In photo: DTI Acting Secretary Cristina A. Roque, and PTIC Tokyo Commercial Counselor Dita Angara-Mathay with Merchandising Strategy Group, Merchandising Development Division, AEON Retail Co., Ltd. Manager Mr. Kouichi Kawamoto, Merchandising Strategy Group, Merchandising Development Division, AEON Retail Co., Ltd. General Manager Mr. Daisuke Yokota, Merchandising Department of Agricultural Products, Food Merchandising Division, AEON Retail Co., Ltd. Manager Mr. Akihito Miyachi, and Food Merchandising Division, AEON Retail Co., Ltd. Managing Executive Officer, General Manager Mr. Nobuyasu Nanao

The company is engaged in trade relationships with Philippine suppliers, primarily importing bananas and pineapples. It has seen a significant 125% increase in sales of Philippine products between 2019 and 2023. Building on this, AEON Retail Co. seeks to expand its sourcing to include other food products, such as coconuts and its by-products, avocados, chocolates, and pili nuts.

Mr. Nanao, Managing Executive Officer of AEON Retail Co., Ltd., expressed the company’s interest to increase their import of food and non-food products from the Philippines.

Additionally, AEON expressed that they are particularly keen on sourcing “Tatak Pinoy” and One Town One Product (OTOP)-compliant products to feature in their retail stores, demonstrating their commitment to promoting authentic Filipino craftmanship and supporting local industries.

Commercial Counselor Dita Angara-Mathay of the DTI field office in Japan noted that products from export-ready Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have the potential to be featured in AEON’s retail stores and shopping malls across Japan.

Furthermore, Commercial Counselor Angara-Mathay expressed the DTI field office’s plans to organize SME missions to Japan. These missions will enable business to engage in business-to-business activities with AEON’s network of buyers. These will also allow participation in retailing activities through kiosks and event halls in flagship AEON malls across Japan.

Secretary Roque assured AEON of the DTI’s support in facilitating their sourcing activities in the Philippines. She added she will take the lead in the curating process for products that meet the quality import standards of Japan, a statement that drew an effusive response from C-Level AEON executives who attended the meeting.

The meeting also touched upon potential collaboration in trade shows and exhibitions. Secretary Roque invited AEON to participate in trade shows in the Philippines, showcasing products from Filipino MSMEs. Mr. Nanao, also a board member of FOODEX Japan which is a prominent annual food trade show, expressed AEON’s eagerness to explore such opportunities.

AEON Retail Co., Ltd., is the leading general merchandise store (GMS) operator in Japan. The GMS business caters to customers’ needs across food, clothing, and housing categories.

Meanwhile, AEON Group encompasses diverse business activities including retail, shopping mall development, financial services, and related sectors. The Group operates globally across 14 countries. ♦

Date of release: 17 September 2024

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