“Our promotion of Japan isn’t limited to the breathtaking destinations we have to offer – we are changing the perception of Japan in that it is not the complicated and expensive place it is perceived to be,” Matsuyama explains. “We are encouraging ‘Ease of Access’ within the industry and ensuring there are more English and foreign-language signs in key tourist destinations”.   With Asian tourists representing the largest market for Japan, Singapore tourism continues to be a major market (one in every ten Singaporeans visit Japan). This year a ‘Memorandum of Cooperation’ was signed between JNTO and the Singapore Tourism Board as part of the fiftieth Japan – Singapore celebrations. “Singapore is our eighth largest market but more importantly, we consider it a high-quality market for us as we share common values,” says Matsuyama. With an anticipated increase in Singaporean, regional and global tourists to Japan, the country’s focusing on providing visitors with quintessential Japanese experiences to compliment the abundant destinations, sights and sounds that Japan has to offer. “As a tourist destination, we are ensuring that visitors recognize that Japan is easy to get to and accessible once visitors arrive in the country. We are committed to improving our services and increasing accommodation capacity ahead of the fantastic world events we will be hosting in the next few years,” says Matsuyama.

“We wanted to introduce our technologies to international clients and deliver solutions to the rest of the world,” says Saito.

“Singapore was emerging as a young and vibrant nation and we supported the country’s ambitious plans and shared our expertise. We partnered with the Singaporean government in 1963, the same year we opened our Singapore office, and established the Jurong Shipyard. This led to the establishment of Jurong Engineering Ltd. in 1971”.

Today, the company has three main businesses in Singapore. Niigata Power Systems Pte. Ltd. manufactures and sells diesel engines for marine, power-generation and rail-traction use while Jurong Engineering Limited constructs power, incineration and steel plants, petrochemical refineries and other infrastructure projects. Since 2012, IHI Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (IHIAP) has been the regional headquarters of IHI Corporation in Asia Pacific.

“We recognize the importance of Singapore’s location in terms of accessing market information and engaging with customers in Southeast Asia,” says Taizo Suga, President and Chief Executive Officer of IHIAP. “Through our Singapore headquarters, we intend to accelerate our business growth across the region.”

IHIAP’s research and development activities are taking precedence in Singapore. In order to drive innovations in chemical engineering, bio-medicine and other fields, the company signed a master research collaboration agreement with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). As a smart-technology traffic supplier, the company also piloted its Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) safety-technologies testing program in Singapore　with the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), an institute in A*STAR, and the Land Transport Authority(LTA).

“The V2I system connects laser ‘radar’ sensors to city buses to warn drivers of pedestrian flows at busy intersections,” explains Suga. “Our Singaporean partners, including the LTA, are keen to collaborate with us in developing new technologies and systems for Singapore”.

From IHIAP’s regional headquarters in Singapore, the company is delivering solutions and systems to Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. “As engineers, it is our duty to deliver infrastructure solutions which benefit the countries in which we operate and improve people’s lives,” says Saito.

Suga concludes, “Today, Singapore is a spring-board for our business across the region and we will continue to collaborate with A*STAR and other Singaporean agencies on key projects while establishing partnerships across the region”.

In pursuit of ‘human-centered’ automation, Azbil aims to constantly improve its ability to help its international customers overcome the challenges they face in key global markets.

Since 1906, Azbil has continued to develop leading measurement and control technologies and tailor-made solutions for customers. Marking 110 years of successful business, 2016 sees Azbil redoubling its efforts to expand its businesses globally. Singapore is an important location for Azbil’s business strategy in Southeast Asia. The company installed its first Distributed Control System (DCS) in Singapore in the 1970’s at petrochemical plants and incineration facilities. In 1998, the Azbil Group expand its business in Singapore; Azbil Singapore Pte. Ltd. which focuses on delivering building-systems solutions. Since then, Azbil has continued to provide life-cycle solutions to industries in Singapore. 2000 saw the company supply a DCS for a district cooling-system in Singapore, the first DCS delivered for a district cooling system in Singapore. Azbil has already provided life-cycle solutions to four different plants. In 2003, Azbil installed its Building Energy Management System (BEMS) at Fusionopolis, a landmark building-complex in Singapore. Key projects followed including the installation of systems in intelligent buildings, hotels, schools, hospitals, and data centers across Singapore. In 2011, Azbil opened a technical service-center on the outskirts of Jurong Island to strengthen its customer support capabilities. Today, Azbil holds the highest license level from Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA); L6 License for Building Automation, Industrial & Process Control Systems work head. The company is building on its excellent history of successful business in Singapore and has to date completed several BCA Green Mark Platinum buildings. Azbil intends to continue providing customers in Singapore with life-cycle solutions developed through the company’s high-engineering skills. With attentive customer support, the Azbil Group is committed to provide its customers in Singapore and around the world with solutions focused on energy-efficiency, safety, and comfort.

says Ko Yamamoto, Managing Director of Meiden Singapore Pte. Ltd. “Last year we also delivered our 20,000th switch gear to the Singaporean power grid”. Meiden Singapore has become a major player in Singaporean power utility and rail infrastructure projects, as well as a key player in water treatment projects. While the company is developing its business within the private sector (oil and gas, petrochemical and manufacturing), long-term public sector partnerships continue to drive its business. “The Singaporean government is implementing power utility and rail networkexpansion projects,” says Yamamoto. “From planning to delivery, we guarantee our highly-trained local employees will deliver the best quality of service for these projects and we expect our business in Singapore to remain constant in the short and long-term”. “The Singaporean market makes up approximately half of Meidensha Corporation’s Southeast Asian turnover and the company is playing a major role in supporting’nation building’ initiatives.Also, this year marks our fiftieth anniversary in Thailand, and it is the second largest market for our business in the region.We are proud of our long history of working with our partners across Southeast Asia,” says Hiroaki Wakui, Managing Director of Meiden Asia Pte Ltd, whose role is specifically to oversee and lead activities by all the group companies in the region through the regional headquarters. “Today, we are eager to enter developing markets such as India and the Greater Mekong Region, where we see demand for rail, construction and infrastructure projects. With our regional growth-plan in place and our close ties to Singapore, we look forward to celebrating Meidensha Corporation’s 120 year anniversary next year. Our offering to clients will continue to combine our distinguished history and our ‘Japanese-quality’ solutions”.

Singapore has successfully established itself as a key international player within the global energy, chemical and shipping industries. By delivering complete value-chain solutions to customers, Singaporean based shipping companies are continuing to successfully connect Singapore to the world.

Privately owned Japanese shipping company Koyo Kaiun Co. Ltd. established Koyo Kaiun Asia Pte. Ltd. in Singapore in 1996 and is continuing to strengthen its Singaporean and international businesses. “While our company history dates back to 1949, this year marks our twentieth anniversary in Singapore and fifty years since we focused on our international chemical tanker business,” says Fujio Sekigucihi, President and second-generation-ship-owner of Koyo Kaiun Co. Ltd. “Singapore’s position as an Asian center for the chemical industry makes it our most important market and the backbone of our activities; including our Inter-South East Asian regional liner service.” Koyo Kaiun Asia Pte. Ltd. initially covered Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam with only one 7,300 dead weight Tonnes(DWT) vessel. Today, the company has nine vessels between 8,500 to 14,000 DWT and continues to work in close partnership with clients across Asia in order to grow its business. “Our expansion reflects the strong economic growth we have seen across the Asia over the last two decades,” says Sekiguchi. “Today our client-base includes Japanese trading companies and large international oil and energy sector group companies”. Having developed a reputation for delivering quality-driven logistics services, in 2010 Koyo Kaiun Asia Pte. Ltd. launched its Asia and North American service.With an office in Houston and five vessels currently serving this route, the company is able to provide North American customers with a direct link to Singapore and the region. As Asia’s energy and chemical sectors continue to develop, Sekiguchi is looking forward to Koyo Kaiun Co. Ltd’s next twenty years in Singapore. “We are very grateful to Singapore for welcoming us and hosting us for the last twenty years,” says Sekiguchi. “We have the utmost respect for Singapore as a model of development, particularly in its industrial sectors.We will play an active role in Singapore’s shipping society and we look forward to continuously better serve our customers in Singapore and around the world”.

Today JPX is in the process of transforming its markets into the preferred venue for investors in the region. The grouped  the formation of Japan’s corporate governance code and developed the JPX-Nikkei 400 index to enhance market quality.By continually upgrade its advanced trading systems and IT networks, JPX has consolidated its underlying infrastructure.In terms of product diversity, JPX has also broadened its Exchange Traded Products and derivatives lineup.

JPX’s efforts chimed with Japan’s economic policies to bring renewed vibrancy to the Japanese securities and derivatives market in recent years and the group continues to see growing interest from investors in Singapore and other parts of South-east Asia.

The group’s Singapore branch offices are delighted to welcome SJ50 in celebration of fifty years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan and intends to continue building bridges to strengthen the ties between Japan and Singapore’s capital markets.