On June 5026, Ambassador Endo Kazuya and Minister for Economic Affairs Yokota Naobumi attended the 2026 International and Private Partners’ Forum (IPPF) at the Manila Hotel, hosted by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).

The forum was likewise attended by OPAPRU Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, other high-level officials from the national and local government, representatives of the business sector, members of the diplomatic community, and international organizations.

The IPPF serves as a venue for identifying opportunities, challenges, and gaps while fostering dialogue that informs policy directions, recommendations, practical solutions, and partnerships for concrete interventions. This year’s forum focused on the readiness of former conflict-affected areas for economic investment.

As a reactor during the plenary session on the potential of conflict-affected areas as destinations for foreign and domestic investment, Yokota shared insights on investment opportunities, economic transformation, and sustainable development in the face of the unique challenges confronting conflict-affected areas in the Philippines.

Given Japan’s longstanding role as a development partner of the Philippines and its unwavering support for the Mindanao peace process, Yokota also highlighted the importance of strong collaboration among governments, development institutions, and the private sector in fostering sustainable economic opportunities in communities advancing peace. Japan Information and Culture Center