If you are an international business looking to invest and profit from Japan, or if you are a Japanese business looking to expand beyond Japan to Singapore, ASEAN, or Asia Pacific, you have come to the right place.
We are one of the oldest and most experienced business strategy, branding, communications, and leadership transformation agencies in Asia, having built brands for emerging and multinational businesses in the entire Asia-Pacific region.
Japan’s technological prowess and exports to Asia Pacific
With its goods and services having a major worldwide influence, Japan has long been a shining example of creativity and technical development. Particularly remarkable in the Asia-Pacific area are Japan’s technological and creative exports, which have shaped sectors and changed lives. Some of the main Japanese exports to Asia Pacific will be discussed on this page together with their importance and influence.
Technology and Robotics
Renowned for its electronics sector, Japan has titans like Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic controlling the worldwide market. These firms have become somewhat well-known in the Asia Pacific for selling a wide spectrum of items, from state-of-the-art cellphones to sophisticated robotics systems. Japan’s robotics sector, for example, leads in manufacturing automation; businesses like Kawasaki Robotics and FANUC provide highly precise robots to producers all throughout the country.
By transforming production techniques, these robots have helped businesses to save costs, boost productivity, and raise the quality of products. Japanese robots are widely used in sectors like automotive, electronics, and food processing in nations like China and South Korea. These robots have had a major influence, as they let producers remain competitive in a fast-changing worldwide market.
Automobile Sector
Another major factor driving Japan’s exports to Asia/Pacific is its automobile sector. With several nations mostly depending on Japanese cars, brands such as Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are very ubiquitous in the area. These businesses have built large-scale production systems, and many of their models are made nearby to meet local demand.
The dependability, fuel economy, and sophisticated safety measures of Japanese vehicles make them highly valued. Japanese cars predominate on markets in nations like Indonesia and Thailand, with several models catered to regional tastes. Significant employment, economic development, and enhanced road safety throughout the area have come from Japanese car exports.
High-speed rail
Another noteworthy export from Japan to Asia Pacific is their fast-paced train system. China, Taiwan, and Indonesia, among other nations, have embraced the venerable Shinkansen bullet train. Looking to improve their transportation systems, nations find Japanese high-speed rail technology to be appealing because of its speed, efficiency, and safety record.
Exports of Japanese high-speed trains have had a major influence, allowing nations to increase connectivity, cut travel times, and boost their own economy. For example, China’s fast-growing rail system—which drew much on Japanese technology—has changed the nation’s transportation scene by linking cities and areas never previously possible.
Electronics Components and Semiconductors
Leading provider of semiconductors and electronics components, Japan boasts corporations like Toshiba and Renesas Electronics controlling the worldwide industry. These firms provide vital parts to makers of electronics, automotive, and industrial equipment throughout Asia Pacific.
Japanese semiconductor exports have had a significant influence, allowing businesses to manufacture industrial equipment and high-performance devices. Japanese semiconductors have great use in consumer electronics, automotive, and renewable energy sectors in nations such as South Korea and Taiwan.
R&D and innovation
Another major export from Japan to Asia Pacific is its R&D capacity and inventiveness. Leading innovators in newly developing technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT), are Japanese businesses. To use Japanese corporations’ knowledge and create new technology, some of the surrounding nations are forming alliances with them.
For example, Japan’s robotics sector is working with nations including China and South Korea to create sophisticated robot systems for manufacturing and healthcare. Likewise, Japanese businesses are developing AI-powered solutions for sectors like banking, healthcare, and transportation by means of regional partners.
Growing with Asian neighbors
With its exports redefining sectors and changing lives, Japan’s technical mastery has had a major influence on the Asia Pacific area. From electronics and robotics to high-speed trains and semiconductors, Japanese businesses have become very prominent in the area. Japan’s inventiveness and R&D capacity will become more and more crucial in determining the Asia Pacific’s course as the area develops.
Japan is positioned to keep its leading technical power in Asia Pacific by its great emphasis on quality, dependability, and innovation. Japan’s technical knowledge will be vital in guiding development, enhancing lives, and reshaping the Asia Pacific as the area negotiates the possibilities and difficulties of the twenty-first century.
Why do smart Japanese businesses invest in ASEAN and Asia Pacific?
The ASEAN market has a combined population of more than 680 million people, more than the entire EU population (449 million+) or that of the United States (355 million+). The ASEAN market has a combined GDP (PPP) of around US$12 trillion, with a GDP per capita of US$17,000 and upwards. The entire ASEAN is a trade-friendly region with free trade agreements.
The ASEAN market is not a monolithic market like China, Japan, or South Korea. It is made up of 10 member nations with 11 official languages (Burmese, Chinese, English, Filipino, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Malay, Tamil, Thai, and Vietnamese). English is used primarily in Singapore and the Philippines. If you want to truly succeed in the ASEAN markets, you would need on-the-ground assistance with partners who can communicate in the local languages.
The greater Asia Pacific is also in various stages of development, presenting a myriad of opportunities for the long haul. For example, mainland China, South Korea, India, and Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) are all unique and important markets to expand and grow for any international business looking for massive markets.
Some of the key sectors growing tremendously in this region include
1. Medicine, Pharmaceuticals, and Healthtech: The healthcare, pharmaceuticals, healthtech, and medical devices markets in this region are high-growth segments, with countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand highly favored as healthcare hubs within ASEAN, and mainland China, South Korea, and Japan being big producers and consumers as well. The regional governments invest heavily in healthcare infrastructure and human capital, in line with the region’s goal for better healthcare, especially in pockets of aging populations.
2. Digital, E-commerce & ICT: With the region opening up to foreign investments in the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) field with investment-friendly policies, the related fields of digital and e-commerce have also become central to this region. The region is fast-growing with broadband (fiber and mobile) implementation, which propels AI (artificial intelligence), digital, ICT, data centers, and e-commerce adoption. The region”s young and vibrant population, with a fast-expanding middle class, also helps all things digital to become investment- and ROI-friendly. Some of the fastest-growing “tech unicorns” are found in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam within ASEAN, and in mainland Japan and India.
3. Construction and Infrastructure: The regional market has not even reached the peak, with a lot more market and growth potential in the decades to come, outpacing developed economies in the EU and USA. Construction will continue to be a driving force in this region to cater to continued and accelerated growth. The construction industry is often a collaboration of government and private sector entities. The regional economy is fast expanding beyond their cities, with rail infrastructure fast permeating throughout the region, empowering rural and suburban economies, and even linking to the rest of the world. The Laos-China Railway (LCR) is one such monumental project, which empowers merchants from Laos to profit from the southern Chinese regions and beyond. The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail (HSR) service is another pan-Asian collaboration between China and Indonesia.
4. FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), F&B, and Hospitality: The region is growing with rising disposable incomes, and industries such as food and beverage (F&B), hotels, tourist destinations, music entertainment, and personal care products are all going to power the region’s consumption.
We help you grow and profit in ASEAN and greater Asia Pacific
McGallen & Bolden is one of the oldest and most experienced business strategy, branding, communications, and leadership transformation agencies in Asia, and we have built brands for emerging and multinational businesses in the entire Asia Pacific region.
Our portfolio is extensive, and our experience is deep and wide, ranging from AI, software, cybersecurity, IoT, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, robotics, industrial safety, electronics, luxury, FMCG, and more. You will benefit from one of the best consultancies that can help you with understanding how to penetrate the Asia Pacific market and using various strategies and tactics to grow your customer base.
Let us know what you need, and we will look forward to our conversation to help you grow and profit in the region soon!