New Investor Information Site for Japan Launches

A new "one-stop-shopping" website called INVEST JAPAN! has been launched this month. Offering a wide range of information and statistics on Japan's various industries and regions, the site has been created by the government-supported Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

The site has been designed specifically to support foreign companies interested in direct investment opportunities in Japan. Despite its slow economy, Japan has in fact been attracting considerable interest from overseas investors in recent years. Foreign direct investment is thought to have reached a record $28.3 billion in fiscal year 2000- over five times the level of 1997.

The Japanese government is undoubtedly keenly aware of the importance of foreign direct investment. The new JETRO website should go some way in promoting mutually beneficial trade and economic relations between Japan and other nations. The site will also reflect JETRO's broad expertise and knowledge regarding investment in Japan as well as providing access to the wide range of free services currently available to overseas investors.

The special features of the new INVEST JAPAN! website include:

• A cost simulation model to help estimate the start-up cost of establishing a new operation in Japan.
  
• A monthly feature on foreign firms that have established operations in Japan, describing their motives, difficulties they may have faced, and how they overcame them.
  
• A section highlighting regional investment incentives, cost comparisons, and overviews of each locality's transportation infrastructure.
  
• Detailed information regarding regulations on establishing new enterprises, presented in an easy-to-understand Q&A format.
  
• Links to useful government and private sector information sources.

"INVEST JAPAN! has been developed to offer foreign investors the most comprehensive data that is currently available on investing in Japan", noted Ken Katayama, director of public relations at JETRO New York. "We welcome suggestions and comments as well as inquiries from information providers who might benefit from links to this content."

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

Register (free) for Daily Research News

Simple printable version of this article

Email this article to a friend