On October 8, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Joint Statement with the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Republic of the Philippines to promote cooperation in the field of energy security.
The signing took place on the sidelines of the Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting, in the presence of Kei Takagi, Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and was conducted by Naofumi Yoshikawa, Executive Director of JICA, and Sharon Garin, Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE).
At the Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting
In addition, at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Energy Business Forum held prior to this event, Minister Garin presented a certificate of appreciation to JICA for its cooperation and contributions to the field of energy security to date.
In recent years, as the importance of strengthening energy security in ASEAN countries has grown even more, JICA and the DOE are advancing cooperation to enhance the Philippines’ energy security under the framework of the Partnership for Strengthening Asia’s Energy and Resource Supply Resilience (POWERR Asia). Japan and the Philippines share deep economic ties, including trade and investment, and strengthening the system that supports a stable energy supply in the Philippines is also important from the perspective of energy security for the entire Asian region, including Japan. Specifically, the two organizations will collect data and analyze the current situation regarding oil supply and demand as well as stockpiling systems; make policy recommendations on legal frameworks and implementation systems suited to the Philippine context; and, in addition to working on the review and proposal of projects for human resource development and capacity building, examine and propose projects, and share Japan’s knowledge and experience regarding oil stockpiling and related matters through the dispatch of experts, on-site seminars, and invitations to the Philippines.
Taking this joint statement as an opportunity, JICA will further strengthen its cooperative relationship with the DOE and contribute to enhancing energy security in the Philippines and the ASEAN region by providing support that leverages Japan’s long-standing expertise in systems for ensuring a stable supply of petroleum.
© Source JICA