Building on decades of successful collaboration with Japanese industry, Aboitiz Economic Estates has formally established a Japan Office in central Tokyo, strengthening its ability to support Japanese manufacturers with closer, more decision-ready engagement as they expand or scale operations in the Philippines.
Decades of Partnership with Japanese Industry
For more than three decades, the Aboitiz Group has partnered with leading Japanese companies across shipbuilding, energy, and industrial development, supporting long-horizon investments that require stability, governance, and operational continuity. Today, as the Group continues its transformation into a techglomerate, Aboitiz brings together deep industry expertise with technology-enabled solutions to drive smarter, more resilient businesses.
As one of the Philippines’ best-managed conglomerates, Aboitiz has built a diversified portfolio spanning power, banking and financial services, food and beverages, infrastructure, land, and data science and artificial intelligence. This evolution strengthens its ability to deliver scalable, future-ready partnerships. Long-standing collaborations with Japanese partners reflect this shared commitment to innovation and sustainability—most notably with Tsuneishi Heavy Industries which anchors West Cebu Estate and has helped establish the Philippines as one of the world’s leading shipbuilding nations. JERA Co., Inc., is also a long-term strategic partner of AboitizPower involved in large-scale energy projects, technology collaboration, and talent development.
These enduring relationships reflect Aboitiz’s capability to support complex manufacturing and infrastructure investments over multiple decades, a track record that has become increasingly relevant as Japanese companies reassess supply chains and production footprints across Southeast Asia.
Known as the Shipbuilding Capital of the Philippines, West Cebu Estate spans 540 hectares as a PEZA‑registered Special Economic Zone in Balamban, Cebu. Anchored by Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu) Inc., the estate has supported the country’s shipbuilding industry for over 30 years, helping position the Philippines as the world’s fourth‑largest shipbuilder by gross tonnage.
An Integrated Platform for Manufacturing and Industrial Growth
Aboitiz Economic Estates operates the Aboitiz Group’s industry-anchored estate platform, where development extends beyond land provision and basic utilities to encompass a full suite of integrated infrastructure and operational support. In addition to power, water, and connectivity, estates are planned alongside logistics, sustainability systems, governance frameworks, workforce readiness, and ease-of-doing-business solutions delivered through the broader Aboitiz Group. This approach allows Aboitiz Economic Estates to anticipate the evolving needs of locators and reduce operational friction, supporting manufacturers that prioritise predictability, continuity, and the ability to scale over the long term—particularly Japanese firms that require operating environments aligned with disciplined standards and forward planning.
Flagship LIMA Estate leads its industrial portfolio, spanning 1,100 hectares as a PEZA-registered economic zone in Batangas and serving as the Philippines’ largest privately owned and top-selling industrial park. Anchored by long-standing Japanese locators such as EPSON Precision Philippines and Yamaha Motor Philippines, the estate reflects more than three decades of sustained Japanese manufacturing operations supported by reliable infrastructure and ecosystem planning. In Cebu, West Cebu Estate continues to serve as the country’s center for shipbuilding, in partnership with Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, while in Central Luzon, TARI Estate is emerging as a food and light manufacturing hub where Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation has located. Together, these estates demonstrate Aboitiz Economic Estates’ consistent role as the industry platform of choice for Japanese manufacturers seeking long-term, stable, and scalable operations in the Philippines.
Positioned as the country’s next food manufacturing hub, the 384-hectare TARI Estate in Tarlac is fast emerging as Central Luzon’s next industrial frontier. Anchored by Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines and Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation, it reflects Aboitiz Economic Estates’ commitment to smart, sustainable, and future-ready industrial development.
Strengthening Coordination with Japan-Based Stakeholders
The establishment of the Japan Office formalizes Aboitiz Economic Estates’ long-standing engagement with Japanese partners by bringing coordination and support closer to Japan-based decision-makers. The office is intended to facilitate clearer communication, earlier alignment on requirements, and more efficient coordination between Japanese headquarters and Philippine operations, helping reduce friction throughout the investment and expansion process.
This effort is led by Kazuaki Shirozono, appointed as Senior Adviser for Global Market Strategy and Development for the Japan Office. Based in Tokyo, he serves as Aboitiz Economic Estates’ on-the-ground extension—maintaining continuity with existing Japanese locators, guiding new investors through market entry and site development, and translating local operating realities into decision-ready insights for Japan-based stakeholders. His background in delivering large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects across Japan and Asia, including past leadership roles in Marubeni Corporation, brings a deep understanding of how Japanese enterprises assess risk, governance, and long-term viability.
By establishing a dedicated presence in Japan, Aboitiz Economic Estates reinforces its commitment to serving Japanese manufacturers as long-term operating partners, supporting sustained industrial growth in the Philippines through proximity, disciplined execution, and trusted partnership.
