“Few companies can offer the level of expertise we are able to deliver through our engineers, all of whom hold various licenses to enable them to manage multiple projects in various industries”.

The range of services offered by the company includes ‘Total Facility Management’ (TFM).

“TFM was launched in order for us to undertake the operational management at cutting-edge facilities with the aim of reducing our customers’ costs”, says Tanaka.

Having established an extensive network across Japan and entering the Taiwanese market, the company expanded into Southeast Asia in 2015 by acquiring Singapore-based Aldon Technologies Services Group (ATS). (read related article)

“We saw value in Aldon’s strengths as a business and recognized that both our companies could benefit by bringing together Singaporean know-how to Japan and Japan expertise to Singapore”, says Tanaka.

“I am very happy with our investment in Singapore both from a business perspective and from a people-to-people standpoint. Singaporeans are trustworthy and share the same values and work ethics as their Japanese counterparts. ATS and Japan Material have similar approaches to doing business and today we share a clear goal in terms of the direction in which we are going”.

www.j-material.jp

“Today, we are actively facilitating inbound investments from Singapore to Japan, sourcing ASEAN investment opportunities for Japanese investors and expanding our overseas operations from our Singapore hub.”

In the last three years, the company has made significant investments across the region. In March 2017, Kenedix Asia acquired fifteen per cent units of ‘AmanahRaya REIT’,a top-ten listed Malaysian REIT, and forty nine per cent of ‘AmanahRaya-Kenedix REIT Managers’.

“We acquired the ‘Vista Tower’, a sixty three floor Grade-A office building inthe CBD of Kuala Lumpur in September 2017”, says Uchida. “We then solved investment structural issues andsold the property to AmanahRaya REIT in January of this year to increase our REIT and diversify our portfolio of assets under management”.

In 2015, Kenedix Asia acquired the ‘V-Tower’ property close to the Japanese Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam. The following year, the company bought a twenty percent stake in ‘AIRA Property’, the real estate development arm of Thailand Stock Exchange listed financial group, AIRA Capital.

“AIRA Capital is interested in expanding into REIT’s in Thailand so this was an ideal partnership for us to undertake,” says Uchida.

As the property sector gains traction across the region, Kenedix Inc. intends to continue to explore diversified investment opportunities.

“We want to be the intermediary between investors and investments in ASEAN”, says Uchida. “We are fully committed to serving investors by tailoring our investment proposals to fit each individual’s needs and risk allowances”.

www.kenedix.com/eng/

ATS is a second source supplier for consumables, spares, process kits and chamber parts for electronics, semiconductor and flat panel manufacturers.

The company also specializes in process kits refurbishment and repair services. These include advanced plasma-coating of Y2O3 and Al2O3, Arc Spray, Anodization and Chemical Cleaning. In addition, ATS offers value-added services such as refurbishment, maintenance of robots and other auxiliary equipment and develops and implements “Continuous Improvement Programs” to improve clients’ processing efficiencies.

ATS’s expertise, global reach and position as one of the largest second-source parts providers to wafer fabrication plants in Singapore, attracted Japan Material Group as an investorin 2015.

“ATS’s advanced plasma-coating technology is highly regarded within the semiconductor industry and we have developed a strong client base across Asia and North America,” explains Allen SM Ang, ATSGroup Managing Director.

“Both Japan Material and Aldon share common customers in Japan and a similar business strategy, concept and vision.”

The company aims to become a leading integrated product and services provider offering clients cutting-edge technology, not only in the electronic and wafer-manufacturing industries, but also in the repair and overhaul industries.

“We have successfully developed synergies between our companies over the last three years”, explains Ang. “We have broadened our business scope, strengthened our bottom-line and invested in our research and development capabilities”.

With a 50,000 sq. foot facility in Singapore, associate sales offices in China and Malaysia and business partners in Korea, Taiwan and North America, ATS is embarking on larger projects across the region and contributing to stronger Japan-Singapore business ties.

www.aldongroup.com.sg

BayCurrent Consulting Inc. employs over 1,100 consultants and this month (April 2018), the firm will hire one hundred new consultants including recruitment from the ASEAN region which is still small.

“Given the maturity of the Japanese market, it is inevitable that we would develop our business in ASEAN,” explains Abe. “While Singapore is a new market for us, the city-states’ role as the gateway to ASEAN and its proximity to Japan are key factors as we follow developments there”.

Singapore’s dynamic talent-pool prompted the firm to establish good relationships  with Asia’s leading Universities; National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). “Our relationship with Universities is focused on training and developing consultants for the future”, says Abe.

With an increasing amount of cross-border business taking place, BayCurrent Consulting Inc. is able to assist clients with complex operational processes. The firm provides clients with a competitive edge as they navigate through the uncertainty of changeable market conditions and the development of new technologies.

“We provide our clients with the latest emerging-technology trends to help them develop their business”, says Abe. “Last year we published our third book on digital transformation which has become a best-selling book in the business category. As a Japanese consulting firm, we deliver value through our focused methodology and we look forward to contributing towards a closer partnership between ASEAN and Japan”.

www.baycurrent.co.jp/en