As Japanese companies expand their global footprint to drive regional growth, BDO Unibank, Inc. reaffirmed its support for foreign investors by hosting a delegation from the Kyoto Employers Association (KEA) at its Makati headquarters.
The visit, organized in partnership with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Osaka, marked KEA’s first business mission to the Philippines. Led by Monina Elena Camigla, BDO’s Senior Vice President and Deputy Department Head of Financial Institutions and International Desks, the delegation was given firsthand insights into the Philippine market, labor landscape, and investment opportunities.
The visiting KEA delegation—comprising young leaders under 50 from various industries such as automotive, real estate, IT, web services, graphic design, food manufacturing, refrigeration systems, waste paper recycling, and legal consultancy—highlighted the diversity of Kyoto’s economic sectors. KEA is one of four major economic organizations in Kyoto Prefecture and represents more than 430 member companies, including global names like Kyocera, Nidec, Horiba, and Shimadzu.
While Japanese business engagements have traditionally centered around Tokyo and Osaka, this meeting focused on expanding partnerships between Kyoto-based companies and Philippine stakeholders. As the only Philippine bank with a full suite of International Desks, BDO provides a multicultural team of relationship managers and advisors with strong international and local banking expertise. Since its establishment in 2007, BDO’s Japan Desk has grown steadily, staffed with Japanese-speaking personnel dedicated to supporting both Japanese corporations and individual clients in the Philippines.
The KEA delegation’s visit to BDO reflects Japan’s growing interest in Philippine investments and highlights the critical role of trusted financial partners like BDO in enabling long-term economic cooperation. PR