Bank’s networking fair seen yielding big deals

A significant number of business deals are expected to emerge from the first business matching fair jointly hosted by Security Bank Corp. and Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. in Makati City last week, according to company officials.

About 200 meetings between the banks’ Japanese, Philippine and Southeast Asian corporate clients were arranged during the one-day fair last week.

The business matching fair—the first of its kind locally, but a common practice in Japan —was attended by clients from various sectors, including those in the distribution and manufacturing of fast moving consumer goods; healthcare and medical equipment; real estate development; agriculture, and seafood products.

“Our partnership with MUFG helps facilitate cooperation and provides access to the global marketplace for our clients,” Security Bank president and CEO Alfonso Salcedo Jr. said. “Our combined strengths now serve as an avenue for Japanese and Filipino businesses to meet and discuss how to further develop opportunities that will help our economies.”

MUFG’s Manila branch general manager Tadahiro Miyamoto said the Philippine market “is very important” to the financial giant and that its strategic alliance with Security Bank “helps us better reach out to local corporations here and support Japanese investment in the country.”

“By jointly hosting this first-ever networking session, we hope to foster new relationships and contribute to greater business collaboration between companies from both countries,” he said.

The business matching sessions ended with a cocktail reception that was attended by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Charito Booc Plaza and Minister for Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Japan Makoto Iyor, as well as officials and clients of Security Bank and MUFG.