Manufacturing & Industrial

Japan - Thai flooding dents Japan's November industrial output

Source: Channel News Asia, 28 December 2011

Japan's industrial output shrivelled in November, figures showed Wednesday, as flooding in Thailand added to woes for companies already battling a strong yen and the global economic chill. Production of passenger cars and mobile phones were among the hardest hit as Japanese-run plants in Thailand were crippled by devastating floods that hit the country.

Despite the slowdown, Tokyo said it expected an uptick in the months ahead, with factory output jumping 4.8 percent in December and 3.4 percent in January based on surveys of companies. Daiwa's Osanai said his economic outlook for December and January was in line with the government report, although the official forecast figures were surprisingly strong.

India - India may bring Japan on board for manufacturing plan

Source: The Economic Times, 29 December 2011

The Indian government is counting on aggressive investments from Japan to fund the proposed National Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) in the country. Japan is already a major development partner in the proposed Delhi Mumbai industrial corridor, contributing $9-billion into the project. It has 26% stake in the special purpose vehicle created to implement the corridor. Japan is India's largest bilateral donor and its cumulative investments in the country amounted to 3,700 billion yen by June 2011.

Under the new manufacturing policy, the government proposed to set up NMIZs across the country to ramp up manufacturing output from 16% of GDP at present to 25% of GDP by 2025 and generate at least 100 million additional jobs.

Asia - Hitachi Plant Expands in Indonesia

Source: The Indonesia Today, 21 December 2011

Hitachi Plant Technologies Ltd intents to establish Indonesian subsidiary, PT Hitachi Plant Technologies (Indonesia)Co., Ltd by March 2012. The establishment is part of Hitachi’s global plan to develop local subsidiaries in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and India. Hitachi’s Singaporean subsidiary will oversee operations of all Souteast Asian local subsidiaries.

“These local subsidiaries are being launched to pseed up decision-making and create a system to clarify responsibilities. The aim is also to develop business activity firmly rooted in the region,” the company said in a press statement.

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