‘We are committed to continue growing in partnership with our customers in Singapore and ASEAN.’

Shunichi Asada,
President & CEO,
Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation

TC-Lease has established a network of offices throughout the Asian region in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. The company’s local subsidiary in Singapore, Century Tokyo Leasing (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., is the largest of the company’s international business entities by
balance of assets.

In Singapore, the main services offered by the company are automobile financing, equipment financing and vendor lease programs. The company began offering automotive financing in 1997 and this continues to be a key business driver for the company representing eighty-eight percent of their total sales today. Both new and used vehicle financing is provided through authorized agents. Century Tokyo Leasing (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. also provides floor stock financing for its network of dealers.

Equipment financing and vendor leasing are designed to help customer’s businesses grow. The rationale of TC-Lease’s equipment financing solutions is that the company facilitates lump purchases and enables customers to make payments by instalment. This scheme makes it possible for customers to avoid huge costs at the time of their initial capital investment and it is provided based on the customer’s repayment capabilities. Vendor leasing is structured to support manufacturers, distributors and resellers. By collaborating closely with customers or vendors and providing value added services, the company has developed a strong competitive edge in Singapore.

“Singapore’s economic growth is founded on political stability and Singapore’s government actively encourages private sector growth for the good of the country”, says Asada. “We are committed to continue growing in partnership with our customers in Singapore and ASEAN. We will contribute to society as a comprehensive financing services company by developing services that transcend the business domains of leasing and financing”.

Singapore is strengthening its reputation as a regional partner for Japanese Corporations. Topcon Corporation, a leading Japanese ophthalmic and optometric instruments manufacturer has recently established a collaboration with Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R), a member of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR).

The joint laboratory, ATLANTIA (Advanced Technological Laboratory for A*STAR and Topcon’s Innovative Alliance) has been established to develop advanced technologies to better detect major eye disorders and diseases in the early stages.

“Our collaboration with I²R will support the fight against blindness in Singapore,” says Satoshi Hirano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Topcon Corporation. “Our technologies will lead to early detection and diagnosis of eye diseases such as glaucoma, myopia and age-related macular degeneration.”

“Early detection of eye diseases such as glaucoma, myopia and age-related macular degeneration can potentially reduce healthcare costs as well as prevent or reduce the patient’s pain and suffering. We are very happy to work with Topcon Corporation to develop a wide spectrum of capabilities to help detect these common eye ailments before they deteriorate and cause loss of sight,” says Dr. Tan Geok Leng, Executive Director of I²R.

ATLANTIA will make use of Topcon’s Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). As a revolutionary imaging technology, OCT enables eye doctors to view cross-sections of the eye and determine the underlying cause of disease.

Satoshi Hirano, President & CEO, Topcon Corporation

“We are committed to working with our partners in Singapore and are excited about our collaboration with I²R and the contributions we can make to Singaporean society”, says Hirano. “Singapore offers a highly skilled workforce and is an excellent location to do business throughout the region. Our unique technologies will enable us to provide a broad range of solutions to our customers in Singapore and the surrounding region.” Topcon was the first company to commercialize 3D optical coherence tomography integrating OCT and non-mydriatic retinal cameras. While the company’s recent developments in Singapore are related to its eye care business, the company’s main business unit is Smart Infrastructure through its market leading Robotic Total Stations.

The integration of the ASEAN region by 2015 will lead to the emergence of a united Asian community. Article one of Asia University’s regulation stands as a testament to the university’s vision to play a future role within the region;

‘The mission of this institution is to nurture minds capable of achieving an integrated Asia, with priority being placed on conducting research and taking constructive action relating to Asian culture and society’.

“We have always been driven to internationalize the university since its founding in 1941”, says Dr. Masahiro Ikejima, President of Asia University. “A significant number of Chinese students studied with us over sixty years ago and we continue to build on our successful partnerships throughout the international academic community in a range of subjects”.

The universities faculties include Business, Economics, Law and International Relations. The Graduate School offers Asian and International Business Strategy, Economics and Law.

Asia University was the first university in Japan to offer students the opportunity to study abroad for five months and still be able to graduate within four years. “Our competitive edge as a university is the emphasis we place on international education,” says Ikejima. “The experience of studying abroad encourages open-mindedness and provides our alumni with real-life experiences and a strong academic foundation”.

Through its partner universities in Asia, North America and Europe, Asia University offers diverse international programs. As a pioneer within Japan’s education sector, the university established programs such as the China Internship and Study Program and America Program (AUAP). Since the AUAP pilot program commenced twenty-five years ago, over 11,500 students have taken part and the program remains one of the largest study abroad programs in Japan. The university also has strong relations with the private sector on which it is continuing to build for the future.

“Our intention is to increase our partnerships with industry leaders and provide students with training and employment opportunities”, says Ikejima.“Our duty is to provide support through out the entire admissions procedure, offer a great education and provide employment opportunities upon graduation. We want to be a leading internationally focused Japanese university and develop dynamic professionals. We are proud of our achievements and we look forward to forging new partnerships with institutions particularly in Southeast Asia, businesses and students in the future”.

Norio Nakajima,
President & CEO,
DIAM Co., Ltd.

Established in 1999 as a joint venture between Mizuho Financial Group and Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd., DIAM has become one of the largest asset management companies in Japan. The company has assets under management of 124 billion USD (as of March 31, 2013) and has developed a wealth of experience in the management of equities, fixed income and currency investments to pensions, institutional and retail assets in Japan and overseas.

“We are seeing increased interest from Japanese and regional institutional investors in the growth markets throughout the ASEAN region”, says Norio Nakajima, President and Chief Executive Officer of DIAM Co. Ltd. “As a dynamic regional business hub, Singapore is playing an important role as we expand our business in the ASEAN region”.

The company’s Singaporean subsidiary, DIAM SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. was established in 2008 to provide sub-advisory services to DIAM’s group companies in connection with certain funds and segregated mandates which are comprised of investments in Asian stocks. DIAM SINGAPORE also expands its business by delivering services to Japanese and European investors interested in the burgeoning ASEAN markets.

“The growth being seen in the ASEAN markets is a key focus for the company, we are monitoring developments very closely in line with our global growth strategy. We intend to strengthen our business performance by investing in the region and introducing our tailor-made investment products to institutional investors as well as sovereign wealth funds (SWF),” says Nakajima. “While focusing on managing the assets of institutional investors, there are a growing number of high net-worth investors in the region and we would like to expand our business to retail investors in the near future.” With a commitment towards increasing their brand recognition in ASEAN, the company is focusing on leveraging their expertise in order to deepen the relationship with clients in the region since the Japanese economy is showing signs of recovery.

“Japan is emerging from a period of long-term deflation and as the economy continues to be strengthened by the effects of ‘Abenomics’, we expect cash flow to start entering the Japanese investment market,” says Nakajima. “Our prediction is that the Japanese market will remain robust for the rest of 2013. We will focus on introducing our Japan Equity and other Japan related products to our prospective clients”.

As the company continues to develop its business in the growth markets of the region, Nakajima provides his thoughts on strengthening of the ASEAN – Japan relationship.

“The consolidation of ASEAN countries’ economic and infrastructure systems will drive Japanese economic growth and simultaneously, Japan must engage more with ASEAN financial and capital markets. We understand the wealth of opportunities within the ASEAN region and we intend to make greater inroads into both the public and private sector markets. Through our commitment to the region, DIAM aims to contribute to the future of the ASEAN – Japan relationship,” says Nakajima.

Established five years after the PET bottle was patented, Nissei ASB Machine Co. Ltd. is a pioneer in injection stretched blow moulding (ISBM) machines used to form PET containers.

The pioneering technologies offered by the company are world renowned for delivering customized moulding solutions. Nissei ASB Machine’s range of products is ideally suited to the needs of custom moulding companies and small and medium size ‘in-line’ filling operators.

“Our company was established thirty five years ago, shortly after the PET bottle was patented,” says Kota Aoki, the son of the founder and current President and Chief Executive Officer of Nissei ASB Machine. “We started our business in the U.S. before developing our local customer base which gave us a unique approach and as a result, our reputation as an innovative company developed rapidly”.

Today, the Japanese market accounts for approximately fifteen percent of the company’s business while overseas markets make up the majority of the company’s business activities. Nissei ASB Machines are exported around the world from the company’s facilities in Nagano, Japan and Mumbai, India.

“We invested in India in 1997 and have continuously expanded our manufacturing capabilities in the country”, says Aoki. “We are now interested in establishing another facility in Southeast Asia due to the growth and stability throughout the region and the affinity countries have towards Japan.”

Acting as a regional hub, the company’s Singapore subsidiary is responsible for sales in Thailand, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and South Africa.

“As a company with an international focus, I would like to continuously increase our foreign employees here in Japan”, says Aoki. “I feel Singaporeans would be a great addition to our team and I am impressed with the country’s role as a financial hub and the high level of talent found in Singapore. Many Japanese companies are interested in ASEAN countries but we must continue to improve the way we communicate and adapt to local cultures. By utilizing our individual strengths, we can benefit from working together.”

To better serve Japanese and non-Japanese clients, law firm Nishimura & Asahi, has been actively expanding its international presence in recent years. The firm provides a full range of legal services relating to business activities and has grown into the largest law firm in Japan. “We regard Singapore as a very important destination”, says Masaki Hosaka, Managing Partner and Attorney-at-Law of Nishimura & Asahi. “Considering its role as a regional hub, we made the decision to open our office in Singapore in early 2012”.

In addition to their office in Singapore, the firm has strengthened their inter-regional network by opening offices in Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Bangkok and Yangon to provide local support to clients. “We regard ASEAN as a single market and our strategy is to establish a presence in each country and integrate ourselves within the region,” says Hosaka.

While the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) intends to become an integrated community by 2015, each country’s judicial system currently varies greatly. Companies with investments in multiple markets across the region require legal services that provide seamless integration and knowledge of cross border cases involving both Japanese and non-Japanese law.

“As a law firm representing market leading clients in their respective industries, we understand the legal landscape of each country and aim to be experts in the intricacies of each culture,” explains Hosaka. “We have increased our presence in the region and by maintaining good relationships with respected local law firms, we are now in a position to offer our clients a ‘one-stop’ system of integrated services”.

Another emerging market with significant Japanese investment is India, which Nishimura & Asahi covers from its Singapore Office.

“We provide our clients across the Asian region with efficient, highly valued legal services”, says Hosaka. “Through the combined expertise of our Tokyo headquarters, foreign branches and regional network, we will build on our reputation as a leading law firm within the region”.

Nishimura & Asahi is also the only Japanese member law firm of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of law firms covering over one hundred countries and legal jurisdictions.

Established in 1885, Fujikura delivers solutions to the telecommunications, energy, electronics, automotive and other industries. As one of Japan’s largest producer of electric wires, cables, optical fiber and related products, Fujikura’s extensive product range and dedicated solutions have enabled the company to successfully expand throughout Asia.

In the 1980’s, vital infrastructure projects were commissioned throughout Asia to drive the region’s development. Seeing an opportunity to grow its business, Fujikura established a regional headquarters in Singapore in 1987 to offer high quality products with a customer focused service.

“We are proud that Singapore was one of our first overseas manufacturing facilities,” says Yasuyuki Oda, Executive Officer and General Manager of Fujikura. “Though we stopped manufacturing in Singapore when the knowledge-based economy overtook the manufacturing industry, Singapore has been our key regional office for over twenty five years and remains a very important market for us”.

Fujikura has been responsible for several large-scale telecommunication and oil & gas projects in the region and has successfully partnered with large local companies. Today Fujikura remains the world’s number one brand in optical fiber fusion splicers and continues to supply optical fibers all over the world.

“Our focus is on foreign markets, particularly in Asia because of the growth being seen in the region”, says Oda. “Large scale infrastructure projects require power cables and systems, and telecommunications and there are many being undertaken in emerging markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar”.

Fujikura has sixty-two overseas subsidiaries and international business represents forty six percent of the company’s total business. “As part of our 2015 Mid-Term Business Plan, we want to increase our overseas business,” says Oda. “We are strategically focusing on the development of our telecommunications and energy-related businesses in China, South America, India and of course Southeast Asia. We want to contribute to the ‘nation-building’ in those emerging countries by growing the local joint venture companies together with local partners. This year we have established two companies both in Indonesia and Brazil”.

With renewed efforts to strengthen their global reach, Fujikura is relying on superior products, innovative technology and high standards customer service to drive international growth.

“We provide customers around the world with highly reliable products and quality services, which are major components of our core values”, says Oda. “Particularly in ASEAN region, Noboru Sugiyama, Chairman of Fujikura Asia Ltd. in Singapore intends to contribute play a key role in the growth of the ASEAN region through our commitment to world-leading infrastructure development projects”.

Singapore is reinforcing its status as a regional maritime hub. The city-state’s port is the world’s second-busiest in terms of total shipping tonnage and demand for maritime related services continues to grow. With increasing numbers of vessels arriving in Singapore, Fuji Trading is committed to delivering supporting services, maintenance and supplies to its growing customer base.

“Our mission is to ensure our customer’s vessels are sufficiently equipped, fully maintained and well supplied while in port before continuing their journeys”, says Masaharu Ono, President of Fuji Trading. “We work with some of the world’s leading ship-owners and international agents and our commitment to our customers is based on our ability to ensure their safety and enable them to focus on their core business”.

Fuji Trading is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary this year. The Yokohama based global marine supplier has developed its highly regarded reputation by offering customers a diversified portfolio of maritime industry services and products. The company’s solutions include marine equipment supplies and the delivery of consumables to engineering works.

The company is present in all major maritime centres around the world and its Singapore subsidiary, Fuji Trading Singapore (FTS) is an essential part of its global network.

“Our office in Singapore celebrated thirty years of operations in 2012”, says Ono. “With the increasing amount of maritime related business taking place in Singapore, we consider our Singapore business unit to be a vital part of our global business activities.”

In order to provide customers with a comprehensive range of maritime related services, FTS has established dedicated subsidiaries to handle specific activities. Fuji OPL Services, delivers solutions to ship operators without vessels having to enter a port. Customised engineering, maintenance and repair services are carried out through Fuji Horiguchi Engineering.

The majority of FTS’ business in Singapore is related to the company’s marine logistics business but they are also developing their import and sales side of the business. As part of this import and sales business, FTS trades in wine and various products from the world.

Masaharu Ono, President, Fuji Trading

“The growth taking place in the region has driven us to make strategic investments in Singapore and we have increased our storage capacity and logistics capabilities,” says Ono. The company is in the process of expanding its warehouse facilities in Singapore with a state-of-the-art cold-room, wine cellar and additional modern storage facilities.

“We strictly adhere to safety and environmental requirements and as a Japanese service provider, we are proud of our business growth and the high level of responsiveness we offer customers”, says Ono “From North and South America to Europe and Asia, we are committed to continually delivering quality solutions to our international customers”.

Fuji Oil is revolutionizing the soymilk market. The company’s ‘Soy Renaissance’ is based on the company’s ‘Ultra Soy Separation’ (USS) manufacturing method which creates ‘low-fat soymilk’ and ‘soymilk cream’. USS separates the raw ingredient soy, using a similar process to that used to separate raw milk and this patented soy-separating and fractionating technology is driving Fuji Oil’s international growth.

“The USS process enables us to eliminate the distinct flavour of soy creating more varied possibilities in cuisine from ‘low-fat soymilk’ and ‘soymilk cream’” products, explains Hiroshi Shimizu, Fuji Oil President and Chief Executive Officer. “The process also involves the addition of an ‘Umami’ which acts as an enhancing property in order to create a more functional and varied, high quality end product”.

‘Umami’ is a Japanese word to describe a specific savoury taste and is considered one of the five basic tastes which include sweet, salty, sour and bitter.

“We want to educate consumers about our innovative and safety driven production methods and technologies as they have a direct impact on the food consumers are purchasing”, says Shimizu. “Although we are a business to business company, when we develop our technology, we always have the well-being of consumers in mind.”

The company’s two business units are soy proteins and oils and fats, with the latter focusing on the downstream production of margarines, chocolates, whipped cream and other products. With about fifty percent of Fuji Oil’s business driven by the Japanese market, the company recognises the importance of strengthening its overseas sales channels.

“We are focused on the management of our technology, the company’s global strategy and our drive for sustainability”, says Shimizu. “Global growth is very important for us and our future strategy as we want to optimize our operations and develop our business within the growing Asian market”.

The company established Fuji Oil Asia in Singapore last year to manage the company’s growing global business. The office now covers activities in many countries from South Korea and New Zealand to North and South African markets.

“Through our regional office in Singapore, we aim to work more closely with our international clients and reach out to new customers to develop our business”, says Tomoyuki Yoshida, Managing Director of Fuji Oil Asia.

Shimizu concludes, “As we continue to deliver our proven technology to our international customers, we remain committed to providing innovative solutions and customer focused support”.

Inside view of Haneda Airport Terminal 2

Haneda Airport has aimed to be a benchmark of efficiency and ease of travel for passengers since the company was established in 1953. The airport recently won the World’s Best Domestic Airport Award at the 2013 Skytrax World Airport Awards in Geneva, Switzerland. With the airport’s close proximity to Tokyo and trade between Japan and ASEAN increasing, Haneda Airport is ready for the future.

Since most international flights moved to Narita International Airport upon its completion in 1978, Haneda has been recognised for many years as the center for domestic travel. However, they re-opened their doors to international travellers in 2010.

“With over capacity at Narita Airport, the government decided to take on international flights to ease congestion,” says Takashiro. “Currently, no regulations for restricting flights are imposed on us, however, we initially started accepting flights within a range of 2,000 km from Haneda Airport only.”

Following strategic investments to the airport, the expansion of the international terminal will be completed by early 2014. The expansion is expected to accommodate the number of daytime flights up to 60,000 per year and will position Haneda Airport as the world’s third busiest airport.

Japan Airport Terminal’s President, Isao Takashiro holds the Skytrax award for world’s best domestic airport in 2013