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The Foreign Chambers in Japan (FCIJ) has been conducting Business Confidence surveys online twice a year since 2002 among foreign-affiliated companies in Japan. This, the 23rd, survey was conducted between 10 and 19 April 2013, and received 293 valid responses from members of 18 foreign chambers of commerce and business organizations.

As expected, the views on the Japanese economy showed a significant improvement from the previous survey (in October 2012). The economy for the next 6 months is expected to grow significantly - the index (on a scale from +2 to -2) was now +1.00 (compared to -0.01 in October), and looking 12 months ahead, the companies see still a slightly higher growth rate, index was +1.06, much higher than the +0.19 in the previous survey. Only once since the survey was started in 2002 the index has been higher, in October 2005 (+1.12). 

The positive views on the economy did however not fully reflect in the reported and projected performance of the companies, most likely due to the weakening of the yen.

This time the survey included two alternating questions, the first regarding “Abenomics”, the second related to the Free-Trade agreements.

For the full report, click here.

METI, in cooperation with JETRO, is offering various incentive schemes with the aim of increasing investments either into Japan in general or to specific regions. The most well known are perhaps the incentive schemes focusing on Tohoku and the general incentive scheme to promote the establishment of Asia regional headquarters in Japan or R&D facilities.

The application period or invitation period for the incentive programme for establishment of regional headquarters and Japanese based R&D centres has now opened. Information can be found following the links posted below.

English
Japanese

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Let’s face it, Japan can be a tough place to manage a business. This country has its charms, but it can be a tough market to crack and maintain for the foreign executive. And Japanese managers of foreign firms have their own challenges when dealing with expats in Japan and the people at an overseas headquarters. That’s why the NCCJ began its Lotgenoten series of informal seminars – to provide an opportunity to share experiences of challenges and solutions in an informal, friendly atmosphere. To help ensure an atmosphere of frankness and openness, all discussions are off the record.

The Lotgenoten on March 14 was on the theme of “Dutch vs Japanese working culture – How to read each other’s behavior at work.” This topic prompted a spirited discussion of the pitfalls and misunderstandings that so often befall executives in a multicultural environment in Japan. Participants – both Dutch and Japanese – discussed differences between the two cultures in communication style, decision-making, work-life balance, even in the way meetings are run – all of which can have wide-reaching ramifications for foreign managers, and for Japanese managers at Dutch companies.

This year’s Lotgenoten, which was sponsored by ASML Japan, was the first we’ve organized in the evening, and this offered an opportunity to network afterwards over dinner and drinks at the restaurant in the Gotenyama Trust Tower building.

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