The Island - 12/03/2015
By Ifham Nizam
Japan’s interest in China and the United States as future markets is decreasing, according to recent global surveys, when it comes to the ICT industry and business, says a top Japanese IT expert, thus hinting that Sri Lanka has a very good opportunity for investment in Japan.
Japan IT Services Industry Association, Global Affairs Department, Senior Executive Hidemi Yamamoto addressing a seminar for more than 60 Sri Lankan ICT export firms in Colombo recently said though Sri Lanka doesn’t come under the 20 companies surveyed by the JISA Global Business Committee members, Sri Lanka has the potential to penetrate the Japanese market.
He said that China and US were the most important current markets in 2012/2014. Indonesia is a focused destination as the future market though not many JISA members have current operations there.
Yamamoto said that Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand are also important markers for them.
Answering questions, he stressed Japan ICT companies don’t know very much about Sri Lanka when it comes to corporations, products, software and solutions etc.
He said that their task was to promote Sri Lanka and spread the capacity of Sri Lanka companies in the region.
However, he noted that a knowledge of the English language was the biggest stumbling block to the two nations adding they would work on that area to iron out the differences and to cement more opportunities in both countries.
Yamamoto also said: "We have 600 Japanese IT firms under JISA. We have leading Japanese software developers, information processing and database service suppliers among us. We have alliances with foreign industry associations and I am highly impressed by Lankan IT Industry."
Meanwhile, Ministry of Industry and Commerce estimates that Sri Lanka’s hi-tech exports are projected to cross the USD 1bn mark this year.
"We are looking to create business tie-ups between Lankan and Japanese ICT firms and today’s seminar is the first step-bringing awareness to Lankan ICT firms, said Kazuhiko Obama (Resident Representative-JETRO Colombo).
He added: "We are planning to conduct the follow-up, the Business Matching event in October this year in Tokyo. Before that Sri Lanka EDB will bring a Lankan ICT company delegation to Tokyo for Japan IT Week this May."
"We are a leading systems integrator in Japan and I have almost 40 years of experience in this, said Tsuyomu Tsuchiyama (Corporate Officer, Strategic Planning Division, Nippon RAD Inc) and added: "I look forward to give to Lankan ICT exporters. 99 per cent of my firm Nippon Rad’s business is domestic and in Sri Lanka we are looking for mutual market opportunities and tie-ups. Business and systems integration in the form of JV or BPO/Outsourcing, is possible."
Export Development Board chairman Bandula Egodage said: "The top three Lankan exports to Japan in 2013 were tea (22%), apparel (17%), and seafood (17%). The total trade with Japan stood at USD 566 million in 2014, increasing by 58% to USD 894 Mn in 2013. Our exports to Japan in 2014 stood at USD236 mn, increasing by 6% from 2013’s exports of the same at $224 Mn."
By Ifham Nizam
Japan’s interest in China and the United States as future markets is decreasing, according to recent global surveys, when it comes to the ICT industry and business, says a top Japanese IT expert, thus hinting that Sri Lanka has a very good opportunity for investment in Japan.
Japan IT Services Industry Association, Global Affairs Department, Senior Executive Hidemi Yamamoto addressing a seminar for more than 60 Sri Lankan ICT export firms in Colombo recently said though Sri Lanka doesn’t come under the 20 companies surveyed by the JISA Global Business Committee members, Sri Lanka has the potential to penetrate the Japanese market.
He said that China and US were the most important current markets in 2012/2014. Indonesia is a focused destination as the future market though not many JISA members have current operations there.
Yamamoto said that Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand are also important markers for them.
Answering questions, he stressed Japan ICT companies don’t know very much about Sri Lanka when it comes to corporations, products, software and solutions etc.
He said that their task was to promote Sri Lanka and spread the capacity of Sri Lanka companies in the region.
However, he noted that a knowledge of the English language was the biggest stumbling block to the two nations adding they would work on that area to iron out the differences and to cement more opportunities in both countries.
Yamamoto also said: "We have 600 Japanese IT firms under JISA. We have leading Japanese software developers, information processing and database service suppliers among us. We have alliances with foreign industry associations and I am highly impressed by Lankan IT Industry."
Meanwhile, Ministry of Industry and Commerce estimates that Sri Lanka’s hi-tech exports are projected to cross the USD 1bn mark this year.
"We are looking to create business tie-ups between Lankan and Japanese ICT firms and today’s seminar is the first step-bringing awareness to Lankan ICT firms, said Kazuhiko Obama (Resident Representative-JETRO Colombo).
He added: "We are planning to conduct the follow-up, the Business Matching event in October this year in Tokyo. Before that Sri Lanka EDB will bring a Lankan ICT company delegation to Tokyo for Japan IT Week this May."
"We are a leading systems integrator in Japan and I have almost 40 years of experience in this, said Tsuyomu Tsuchiyama (Corporate Officer, Strategic Planning Division, Nippon RAD Inc) and added: "I look forward to give to Lankan ICT exporters. 99 per cent of my firm Nippon Rad’s business is domestic and in Sri Lanka we are looking for mutual market opportunities and tie-ups. Business and systems integration in the form of JV or BPO/Outsourcing, is possible."
Export Development Board chairman Bandula Egodage said: "The top three Lankan exports to Japan in 2013 were tea (22%), apparel (17%), and seafood (17%). The total trade with Japan stood at USD 566 million in 2014, increasing by 58% to USD 894 Mn in 2013. Our exports to Japan in 2014 stood at USD236 mn, increasing by 6% from 2013’s exports of the same at $224 Mn."
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