TAGUIG CITY -- Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday recognized the important role of Filipino-Japanese partnership in putting up the first Japanese Mall in the Philippines.

Duterte was the guest of honor at the grand opening of the Mitsukoshi BGC, the first Japanese Mall in the Philippines and South East Asia.

Mitsukoshi is also the oldest department store in Japan, celebrating its 350th anniversary this year.

She congratulated the Federal Land, Inc., its holding company GT Capital Holdings, Japanese business partners Nomura Real Estate Development Corporation and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, and their joint venture company, Sunshine Fort North Bonifacio Realty Development Corp. — for their successful launch.

“This partnership, which demonstrated their aggressiveness, optimism, and love of country, inspires Filipino pride,” she said.

She also expressed her appreciation to the Japanese investors for investing in the country, saying it is a significant milestone in property development, tourism, and culture.

“We are grateful that foreign investors — such as Japanese investors — consider the Philippines a highly viable and important investment destination for business expansion and diversification in Asia,” she said.

Japan, noted the Vice President and Education Secretary, has been a constant partner of the Philippines, making it one of the country’s largest infrastructure investors and government collaborators.

“The Marcos administration is confident that through investments such as this, the Philippines is a step closer to our national goal of building a stronger homeland,” the Vice President said.

Also in attendance at the grand opening were Senator Allan Peter Cayetano, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines H.E Kazuhiko Koshikawa, and Alfred Ty of Federal Land.

OVP Media