ActivitiesAssisting business expansion of developing countries

Promoting inclusive business

For developing countries that face problems of little or no access to goods and services or economic opportunities, inclusive business makes it possible to involve people there as consumers, producers, or distributors. This improves the local standard of living while allowing enterprises to make a profit.

Japanese firms have shown interest in doing business with these countries as vast potential markets as well as locations for social contribution. Some of them are developing new products and tailoring their sales methods based on the needs and lifestyles of local consumers identified by their research.

To accommodate this trend, JETRO has dispatched missions consisting of Japanese companies to developing countries since 2011. In addition, JETRO opened a consultation desk for inclusive business that offers services such as introducing local business partners to Japanese companies, specific surveys in alignment with individual requests and test marketing.

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JETRO's inclusive business mission to Bangladesh (February 2013)

Supporting export growth in developing countries through exhibitions in Japan

JETRO assists developing countries in organizing exhibitions in Japan devoted to showcasing the products, technologies and investment environments of these countries. These exhibitions are aimed at providing opportunities for firms in developing countries to meet potential partners and building recognition of these countries in Japan.

For example, JETRO is working with many of these countries to organize One Village, One Product (OVOP) campaigns, under Japan's “New Development Initiative for Trade” announced in 2005.

African Fair 2013, held as an official event of TICAD V, and OVOP markets in Narita and Kansai international airports, which showcase and sell promising local items from developing countries such as processed foods, crafts and accessories, are part of JETRO's efforts to promote products from these countries to the world public. JETRO also organizes the JETRO Zone at Foodex, Asia's largest annual international food and beverage show.

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African Fair 2013 held as official event of TICAD V (June 2013)

Supporting industry growth in developing countries

JETRO assists developing countries to achieve sustainable economic growth by working with them to strengthen export industries, improve business-related systems and nurture human resources, with the goal of establishing win-win relations between them and Japan.

We discover promising products of these countries, investigate any challenges to entering the Japanese market, give advices to local companies through dispatching experts or receiving study tours, provide information to Japanese companies and support business matching through helping local companies exhibit at trade shows in Japan. JETRO aims to help economic growth of developing countries through industrial development, promoting exports to Japan and strengthening business ties between those countries and Japanese companies.

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Promoting Japan's direct investment in developing countries

Organizing foreign business missions and seminars and consulting services

JETRO supports overseas expansion of Japanese firms, particularly SMEs, to emerging and developing countries. This advancement abroad is expected to enhance international competitiveness not only for these companies but also for local industries as well as create new employment in those regions.

For facilitating their overseas expansion, information regarding the local investment environment is provided by seminars and sending missions organized by JETRO and made up of representatives from Japanese firms to individual target countries.

For newly arriving Japanese firms, seven JETRO offices in five Asian countries operate Business Support Centers that provide temporary office space and consultation services on legal, labor and tax issues. In addition, nearly 20 experienced advisers allocated to China, India and some ASEAN countries provide detailed support for Japanese-affiliated companies.

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Business seminar held in Myanmar with attendance by Prime Minister Abe (May 2013)

Launching SME Overseas Expansion Platforms

With the view of further strengthening the support system for overseas expansion by Japanese SMEs, JETRO embarked on the development of local support platforms from FY2013. In an effort to bolster support in response to the diversifying needs of individual SMEs, the platforms team up with local consulting firms, law firms and accounting firms to strengthen the network with each support organization and provide and introduce the necessary services as well as act as intermediaries in an integrated fashion.

Various types of events are held in cooperation with other support organizations with the aim of discovering local partners and learning useful information.

The subject countries in FY2014 include Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Cambodia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, USA and Vietnam.

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Launching SME Overseas Expansion Platform in Brazil (May 2013)

Developing and utilizing global human resources

In response to the urgent need for developing global human resources of Japanese SMEs and facilitate their business with overseas companies, JETRO, in cooperation with the Overseas Human Resources and Industry Development Association (HIDA), provides an overseas internship program for dispatching young Japanese business people and university students to governments, public organizations and private companies in developing countries.

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Dispatching young interns for global human resource development (August 2012)

Assisting infrastructure improvement in developing countries

Backed by rapid economic growth, there is increasing demand for infrastructure development, such as transportation, power and water supply and information technology, in emerging or developing countries. In order to bridge governments or state-owned companies in these countries and firms from Japan and create new business opportunities, JETRO contributes to the development and implementation of infrastructure plans. JETRO's activities include: 1) inviting key figures from these countries to Japan; 2) dispatching delegations from Japan; and 3) implementing domestic and overseas seminars and surveys on local demand.

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Support for Myanmar infrastructure projects (September 2012)

Secretariat for the ATPF

JETRO is a member of the Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) (consisting of 24 member organizations) which facilitates partnership, networking and information sharing among trade promotion organizations in Asia. As the secretariat for the ATPF, we make arrangements for annual CEO and working-level meetings to review the progress of trade promotion in Asia and discuss related issues.

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Participating in Agra CEO meeting of Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) (March 2013)