JETRO’S CENTER PROVIDES LOW-COST ENTRY TO JAPAN

THE JAPAN EXTERNAL TRADE ORGANIZATION WILL OPEN IN TOKYO ON MARCH 25 A BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTER TO PROVIDE FOREIGN BUSINESSES WITH A LOW-COST STRATEGIC BASE FROM WHICH TO LAUNCH THEIR INITIAL EXPORT MARKET DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN JAPAN.

JETRO, A NON-PROFIT SEMI-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1958, SUPPORTS TRADE BETWEEN JAPAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES BY PROMOTING IMPORTS, INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION, TRADE AND INDUSTRY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. 

LOCATED IN A CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, THE CENTER WILL PROVIDE QUALIFIED APPLICANTS A TEMPORARY PRIVATE OFFICE; A HELP DESK MANNED BY FULLTIME ADVISORS FOR INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION; A BUSINESS LIBRARY STOCKED WITH REFERENCE BOOKS AND BUSINESS-RELATED PUBLICATIONS AND FACILITIES TO HOLD BUSINESS MEETINGS AND ACCESS TO TRADE DATABASES.

WITH MORE THAN 80 OFFICES IN 58 COUNTRIES AND AN IMPORT PROMOTION BUDGET THAT WAS GREATLY EXPANDED IN 1990, JETRO IS NOW FULLY GEARED TO PROVIDE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT TO PROMISING EXPORTERS SEEKING TO ESTABLISH STRONG TRADE LINKS WITH JAPAN, ACCORDING TO TADAO IGUCHI, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JETRO ATLANTA.

I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW JETRO BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTER, SAID MR. IGUCHI. IT SHOULD BE A VERY USEFUL VEHICLE FOR PROVIDING FOREIGN COMPANIES WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ENTERING THE JAPANESE MARKET WITH ACCESS TO VALUABLE INFORMATION AND SERVICES.  IT COULD PROVE TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING MANY COMPANIES TO GAIN A FOOTHOLD IN JAPAN.

TO QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM, APPLICANTS MUST BE FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS OR TRADE ORGANIZATIONS WITH A DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO ESTABLISHING ONGOING EXPORT BUSINESS IN JAPAN AND CANNOT HAVE AN ESTABLISHED BASE IN THE JAPANESE MARKET.  APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AT LEAST TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE OF PLANNED ARRIVAL IN JAPAN. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THE CENTER PROMISING TO ABIDE BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND TO PAY A MINIMUM DEPOSIT OF Y50,000 (ABOUT $400) AS A GUARANTEE AGAINST EXPENSES INCURRED FOR PHONE, FACSIMILE AND OTHER FEE-BASED SERVICES.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CALL (404) 681-0600.

EQUIFAX CANADA MODEL FOR GLOBAL OPERATIONS

JEAN CLAUDE CHARTRAND, WHO HAS BEEN HEADING UP ATLANTA-BASED  EQUIFAX INC.’S SUCCESSFUL ACTIVITIES IN CANADA, WILL BE SPEARHEADING THE COMPANY’S INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS UNDER A REALIGNMENT OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS.

CHARTRAND WILL REPORT TO DANIEL W. MCGLAUGHLIN, THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AS HE SEEKS TO DUPLICATE EQUIFAX CANADA’S SUCCESS IN THE U.K. AND ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. 

EQUIFAX CANADA, HEADQUARTERED IN MONTREAL, IS THE LARGEST INFORMATION SERVICES COMPANY IN CANADA AND PROVIDES CANADIAN BUSINESS WITH CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTS, AUTOMATED BUSINESS CREDIT REPORTS AND THE MANAGEMENT AND COLLECTION OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE INFORMATION, AS WELL AS INSURANCE UNDERWRITING AND CLAIM SERVICES.  THE CANADIAN COMPANY CONTRIBUTES ABOUT 7 PERCENT OF EQUIFAX INC.’S $1.1 BILLION IN GROSS SALES.

ACCORDING TO JOE DAWSON JR., WHO IS MOVING FROM SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE MARKETING AND INTERNATIONAL GROUP TO ASSUME NEW RESPONSIBILITIES AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR EQUIFAX CREDIT SERVICES, THE COMPANY WILL BE LOOKING FOR ACQUISITIONS IN EUROPE AS PART OF A GLOBAL STRATEGY, AND IT WILL PROCEED WITH JOINT VENTURES AS WELL AS OUTRIGHT ACQUISITIONS DEPENDING ON PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.