Anti-Japan Protests Make Asean More Attractive :: Bernama.com

Anti-Japan Protests Make Asean More Attractive :: Bernama.com
Bernama.com
Malaysian National News Agency

Anti-Japan Protests Make Asean More Attractive
Business
April 23, 2005 13:23 PM

From Mohd Arshi Daud

TOKYO, April 23 (Bernama) -- Asean's attraction as an investment destination for Japanese companies has somewhat been boosted by the anti-Japan protests in China in recent weeks, said secretary general of Asean-Japan Promotion Centre on Trade, Investment and Tourism, Nobutoshi Akao.

"China is a big and important market. But the strong anti-Japan feeling only raise the risk of investment in China.

"If this continues, the tendency for Japanese companies considering Asean countries as a very important alternative for investment will increase," he said here.

Speaking to Bernama on the sidelines of a trade and investment mission led by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, Akao said that there were already concerns over Japanese companies' investment in China and complaints over the infringement of intellectual property (IP) rights in that country.

"China is strengthening its IP regulations but the problem is still enforcement."

"A Jetro (Japan External Trade Organisation) survey reveals that Japanese companies incurred US$1 billion of losses each year in China due to infringement of patents, copyrights, trademarks and others," Akao said.

Malaysia, he said is one of the top investment locations for Japanese companies due to its excellent infrastructure, educated and hardworking labour and pro-business policies.

"Your government has been very cooperative and quick in resolving problems faced by Japanese companies," he added.

-- BERNAMA



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