APEC's vision of integrating the APEC has remained, for the most part, intangible. Cultural differences, socioeconomic disparity, and lack of a defined structure and leadership have been cited by many as major obstacles. Lately, there has been a proliferation of regional groups in Asia, creating...

Small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are important in many developing countries, including the Philippines. However, this sector remains much less productive than their large counterparts. One factor that can help SMEs achieve higher productivity is internationalization by connecting them...

Trade with nontraditional and distant markets has always been regarded as worth exploring in an effort to increase market shares amidst the downside effects of globalization and regional trade cooperation. While globalization processes paved the way for increased competition and opening up of...

The Philippines has become an export-oriented economy, with exports increasing in significance. The electronics industry, in particular, is a showcase of this newfound export prowess. Traditionally, comparative advantage is the takeoff point for understanding trade patterns in economic theory....

Going by the statements of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan's top priority with regards to regional and bilateral economic partnerships (EPA) is to carryout the framework of its EPA with ASEAN by 2012 or earlier. It must be stressed that Japan is economically interested in the whole...

This paper explores the potentials of including the broad realm of human resource development into the proposed bilateral economic agreements between Japan and the Philippines. The authors greatly recognized that the extent and sustainability of a nation's economic development is largely...

The impact of the Japan-Philippine Economic Agreement(JPEPA) can be enriched by providing a regional dimension in its macro-analysis. Cebu-Japan cooperation largely hinges on Cebu's economic competitiveness which manifests itself through its quality human resources, its dynamic export sector and...

This paper aims to assess the prospects and impediments to developing the Philippine's tourism and retirement services for the Japanese market. The impediments identified are in the areas of air access, peace and order situation, marketing and promotions and market information as well as human...