JAPANESE company Yokoisada (Phils.) Corporation recently announced plans to expand its Philippine operations and double its current production capacity for face masks.
It is also set to begin manufacturing nonwoven fabric and earloop raw materials for its masks to lessen reliance on raw materials from China.
Its operations in Clark Freeport Zone will be the main factory for the Yokoisada group.
Yokoisada president Mr. Yuki Yokoi said their decision to expand was driven by strong support from the government during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As world demand for Yokosaida’s face masks during the pandemic skyrocketed in March 2020, Yokoisada faced operational issues including worker availability, raw material logistics, and personnel movement due to the government’s emergency quarantine measures.
With the help of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Board of Investments, Clark Development Corporation, and the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka, Yokoisada managed to quickly get their production facilities back on track to meet Philippine and international requirements.
Yokoi also cited successful operations in the Philippines for the past years and the goal to contribute to Philippine society as a reason for expanding.
Yokoisada is currently applying for subsidy under the Japanese government’s overseas supply chain diversification project.
“We appreciate Yokoisada’s vote of confidence in the Philippine business environment. The Philippine government stands ready to assist and facilitate their investments in our country. This investment will plug a big hole in our country’s current mask production supply chain, and help ensure a more reliable supply of masks during pandemics,” said Emmanuel Ang, commercial counsellor in the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka.
Based in Nagoya, Japan, the parent company is a pioneer in mask manufacturing, having been in the business for more than 60 years.
Yokoisada (Phils.) started its manufacturing operations in the Clark Freeport Zone in 2013 and was one of only two export-quality surgical face mask manufacturers in the Philippines prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Philippine factory previously exported most of its production and imported non-woven fabric raw material from overseas because there is no local source. (PR)