Japan-based medicine instrument manufacturer Kaneko Medix Inc. has inked a supplemental agreement with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) towards the expansion of its production portfolio.
Kaneko, through its local subsidiary Kaneko Medical Philippine Inc., is a PEZA-registered locator in the First Philippine Industrial Park-Special Economic Zone (FPIP-SEZ) located in Batangas.
The Japanese firm, based in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, is currently manufacturing microcatheters in its FPIP-SEZ facility.
Through the supplemental agreement, it is seeking to expand its operations to include guidewires and other advanced medical instruments.
This will allow the integration of cutting-edge machinery and equipment to further bolster Kaneko’s position in the global medical supply chain.
PEZA, an investment promotion agency (IPA) attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said the agreement with Kaneko likewise cements the Philippines’ status as a key hub in the global medical device and pharmaceutical industry.
It added that this will help drive innovation, accelerate technological breakthroughs, and fuel economic growth for the country.
According to PEZA, the registered Japanese business enterprises it oversees account for 28 percent of all approved economic zone investments.
Currently, there are a total of 800 Japanese locator companies across the country.
As of December 2024, these enterprises have collectively invested more than ₱811 billion, generating $15.8 billion in exports, and provided employment to over 343,000 Filipinos.