China Remains Japan's Most Attractive Business Target

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)--China was selected as the most
attractive medium-term business target by Japanese manufacturers for the
17th straight year, an annual survey showed Tuesday.

India was viewed as the second most promising market over the next
three years and Vietnam as the third, both unchanged from the previous year,
according to the survey by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
The survey by the international division of government-affiliated
Japan Finance Corp. was conducted in July and August, before the global
financial crisis deepened.
Russia ranked fourth, up from fifth a year before, and Brazil came
in sixth, up from seventh. The United Arab Emirates was 14th, up from 22nd,
and South Africa was 20th, up from 24th.
The changes in ranking indicate that natural resource-rich
countries were deemed especially attractive against the backdrop of high
commodity prices that lasted until the middle of the year.
But the percentage of respondents that said they plan to expand
their overseas businesses fell to 79.2 pct from 82.2 pct.
Manufacturers have become more reluctant to invest since September,
the bank said.
The survey covered 982 manufacturers that operate three or more
overseas subsidiaries. Valid responses were received from 63.1 pct.