[Press Release] New JETRO Report Highlights Trends in FDI to Japan

JETRO’s Invest Japan Report 2017 examines foreign direct investment trends in Japan for the 2017 year. The report looks at several facets of Japan’s business landscape including government policies, the national labor pool, foreign investment by industry, and foreign-company longevity in the Japanese market.

 

A summary of the main points can be read below. For more information, download the report (8280KB) .

 

 

Significant increase in Japan's inward FDI – Stock and inflow both marked record highs

1. Japan's inward FDI stock at the end of 2016 was 27.8 trillion yen, a 12.4% increase from the end of the previous year, renewing a record high. Inward FDI stock from Asia, the fastest growing investor region, has increased to about ten times above 2000 levels (517 billion yen → 5,018 billion yen).
2. The net inflow of Japan's inward FDI in 2016 marked 3.83 trillion yen (about six times that of the previous year), a record high since 1996 when comparisons could be made. Major inward M&A deals were: the acquisition of management rights of the Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport by a consortium led by VINCI Airports of France and ORIX, and the acquisition of Sharp by Hon Hai Precision Industry.
3. The number of successful startups or business expansions supported by JETRO in FY2016 was 174, which is a 2.5-fold increase from five years ago (the total number since 2003 is 1,579).
4. According to the survey of foreign-affiliated companies conducted by JETRO, foreign-affiliated companies are generally performing well and positive about economic prospects, with 70% of them planning to expand their business and employment. Of potential locations companies are considering for secondary investment, 66% were prefectures other than Tokyo. Further active investment is expected.

 

New trends in inward FDI in Japan: foreign technology plays a key role in Japanese innovation

1. A new trend in inward FDI in Japan is that of foreign-affiliated companies actively working to contribute to solving problems that Japan faces by collaborating with Japanese companies using technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IoT, AI, etc.), finding commercial opportunities in the country which is called a "frontrunner in overcoming global challenges." Moreover, the trend of foreign EC companies establishing business sites for product procurement in Japan is expected to contribute to the expansion of overseas markets for Japanese companies. Furthermore, as the lifestyles of Japanese people are diversifying, new value is being created through the "sharing economy" business model. The presence of foreign technology and business models contributing to innovation in Japanese society currently stands out.
2. In the survey conducted by JETRO, more than 40% of foreign-affiliated companies answered that their productivity has improved compared with one or two years ago. Measures implemented in order to enhance productivity included "reviewing work procedures" (34.9%) and "introducing more variety of ways of working" (29.4%). These efforts made by foreign-affiliated companies may indicate solutions for Japanese companies and society as "improvement of productivity" and "work-style reform" are among the main challenges faced by Japan.

 

Japan continues to be one of the most business-friendly countries in the world

1. The most frequent request to the Japanese government and industries is "fostering globally competitive Japanese human resources." As a shortage of labor supply and demand has been worsening, "difficulty in finding human resources" is a serious administrative challenge for foreign-affiliated companies. They have strong demand for "engineers who can communicate in foreign languages." In the survey conducted by JETRO, about 60% of foreign-affiliated companies showed willingness to employ international students in Japan. In the "Exchange Students/Global Talent & Foreign-affiliated Company Networking Event" which was held by JETRO for the first time in October 18 2017, about 240 students including international students and more than 60 foreign-affiliated companies participated.
2. Regarding "rigid and complicated administrative procedures and regulations," many pointed out "too many procedures and points of contact" and "internationally un-harmonized and incompatible business permits/licenses" in matters such as "tax matters," "labor matters," "status of residence" and "safety standards/regulations for products."
3. Aiming to make Japan "the most business-friendly country in the world," it is imperative to foster human resources that can be active in the global business field while steadily continuing to advance the efforts of simplifying administrative procedures and regulations.

DOWNLOAD: Invest Japan Report 2017 - English Version ＜PDF＞ (8280KB)