Ramon Ang says he’s in talks with many Japanese companies for possible investment

TOKYO — Tycoon Ramon Ang, president and CEO of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., is in talks with several Japanese companies for potential investment deals.

“Marami akong kausap. Kausap ko ‘yong Mitsui saka ‘yong Sumitomo. Kausap ko rin ‘yong Taisei (Corporation) saka ‘yong Toyo Engineering. Marami tayong puwedeng gawin,” Ang told reporters in a chance interview late Friday here.

(I am talking to many [companies]. I am in talks with Mitsui and Sumimoto. I am also talking with Taisei and Toyo Engineering. We can do many things.)

“Of course hinahanapan natin ng magandang deal. Siyempre kailangan mag-invest sila sa atin ‘di ba. Baka tayo pa ang makumbinse mag-invest sa kanila eh, ‘di ba,” the San Miguel chief said.

(Of course we are looking for good deals. Of course they need to invest in our country. They might convince us too to invest in their country.)

Ang is among the 144 businessmen who accompanied President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on his five-day official visit in Japan.

The Philippine delegation raked in 35 investment pledges spanning across business interests in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, among others.

Asked which specific industries the Japanese investors are planning to invest, Ang said, “In general lahat (all).”

Marcos said earlier that the business matching event arranged by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for 85 Philippine companies yielded more than 255 meetings with their Japanese counterparts.

Ang expressed hope that these can result in enhanced synergies and new opportunities.

Beyond profit and commerce, Marcos is expecting the partnerships to extend to lifelong friendships, which will promote and encourage the deepening and strengthening of the ties between Japan and the Philippines. —KG, GMA Integrated News