Please enjoy fresh & hot news from Japan with comments by Europe-Japan Dynamics.
29 Aug. Japanese companies heading to the last mega market, 73 MOUs in Africa after TICAD6
In connection with the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD6) held in Nairobi, Kenya, 22 Japanese companies and organizations signed 73 memorandums (MOU) with African organisations. Eighty four (84) Japanese companies participated in TICAD to appeal their presence, expecting business development in “The last mega market”.
Comments: Africa has been far and unknown for Japanese companies till recently.
30 Aug. Kubota entering the drone market for agrochemical spraying, one 2 million yen per drone
Kubota Corp., a major vendor of agricultural machinery, announced that the company would enter the market of drone (robot plane) to spray pesticides from the air by May 2017. A drone would cost around 2 million yen, and Kubota would sell 1,000 drones per year three years after the market entry to generate sales of about 2 billion yen.
Comments: Drones may be a good idea to avoid human beings to get affected by harmful ingredients of pesticides.
31 Aug. Production index of manufacturing sector remained flat in July, no renewal of trend assessment
The preliminary figure of the production index of manufacturing sector (2010 = 100, seasonal adjustment) of July released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was 96.9, which remained flat since last month. The trend assessment remained unchanged, being “Fluctuating, while some improvements are seen”.
Comments: We only expect economic recovery.
1 Sep. FamilyMart absorbed UNY, the number of the combined convenience stores become next to that of Seven-Eleven
FamilyMart and UNY group holding performed business integration on 1st September to give rise to UNY FamilyMart Holdings. A large distribution group is born, which has the second largest number of convenience stores and super markets strong in the Tokai Region.
Comments: Large scale supermarkets and convenience stores must revamp their competition strategies.
2 Sep. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical to introduce “Anmerutsu” in the US markets at last at the 50th anniversary of its market release
Antiphlogistic balm “Anmerutsu”, which has been in the market for 50 years since its release in 1966, is entering the US markets. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, which is in charge of the medicine’s sale, announced that the company acquired a US company, Perfecta Products, Inc., to promote the sale of “Anmerutsu” in the US.
Comments: It’s a good idea to bring well-established medicine to new markets.
- All the news items are picked up from “Asahi Digital”, and summarized and translated by Europe-Japan Dynamics. The articles are not an official translation by the Asahi Newspaper.