May 14, 2012

Press Release
To Members of The Osaka Economic Press Club

（cc: Osaka Prefectural Government Press Club, Osaka municipal government Press Club）

O-BIC Achievement Results in FY 2011 & FY 2012 No. 1 achievement【Contact】
Osaka Business and Investment Center (O-BIC)(Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
International Division）
Ms.Liang and Ms.Kamado
TEL: 06－6944－6298

I. O-BIC Results of Achievements in FY 2011
Joint announcement by the Osaka Prefectural Government, Osaka Municipal
Government, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and JETRO Osaka
The Osaka Business & Investment Center (O-BIC) was established in 2001, jointly by the Osaka
Prefectural Government, Osaka Municipal Government, and the OCCI. Functioning as a one-stop
support center, O-BIC promotes foreign direct investment in Osaka. (Secretariat: International
Division in OCCI)- 32 successfully invited cases –○ In FY 2011, by working closely with the JETRO Osaka and the Osaka International Business
Promotion Center (IBPC) as “ALL-OSAKA team”, in spite of the concerns of reputational damage
by the big earthquake and a strong yen, O-BIC succeeded in inviting 32 foreign companies andorganizations to Osaka, which exceeded the past average (25 cases).
○ In particular, for the smooth operation of foreign government offices and companies in Japan who
were affected by the Tohoku Earthquake, O-BIC helped them to find offices in Osaka. Also O-BIC
stepped up on its PR activities to show the conducive environment in Osaka and Kansai to foreign
economic organizations and foreign companies etc. In addition, same as the previous year, O-BIC
provided detailed support, such as introduction to the business environment and arrangement ofbusiness meetings with companies in Osaka etc, to foreign companies who showed strong
interest in setting bases in Osaka.
○ Also in foreign countries including China, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, United States, andGermany, O-BIC organized on-site promotions such as exhibitions, seminars, and visits to attract
foreign investment.

1. Summary - FY 2011 Activities

2. Overview of FY 2011 Achievements - Increased interest from Western countriesA breakdown of the 32 cases which O-BIC successfully invited shows that 20 cases or over
60% of the total are from Asian countries like China, Korea, etc., while 12 cases, most of which weresecondary investments (where a foreign company which already has a presence in another area inJapan newly establishes a branch office etc. in Osaka) were from Western countries (as against 9cases in FY 2010), which has been down since 2008, the year of the Lehman Shock.
The top 3 countries region-wise are, 9 cases from China (including Hong Kong), 6 cases fromKorea and 4 cases from USA.
Of special note is the investment by solar power system related companies in Osaka. For example-1-a German Certification Body for performance and safety of solar power generation systems andlithium-ion batteries established the Kansai Technology center, while SK Solar, a Chinese solar cell
module manufacturer established a Japanese subsidiary company. This shows that the merits andpotential of Osaka in the field of new energies is highly rated, and that market growth due to theFeed-in Tariff Scheme for renewable energy which will be launched in July 2012 is also highlyanticipated.
○ During the 11 years from FY2001 (when O-BIC was established) to FY2011, there werealtogether 280 investments into Osaka, and the top 3 of the cumulative number of cases bycountry are China(84 cases), Korea(41 cases) and USA(34 cases).
FY

FY

FY

FY

FY

FY

FY

FY

FY

FY

FY

2001

20022003

2004

200520062007200820092010

2011

1314332425243628193232

II．O-BIC- The 1st promotional case in FY2012○ ESCO Micro Pte. Ltd., a Singaporean major company which is involved in development,
production and sales of medical equipment and instruments plans to establish a Japanese
Subsidiary "ESCO Japan" in Osaka city, by the end of May 2012.
○ The main products are; air pollution control instrument, air cleaner, and biotechnology laboratory
equipment. Especially, they enjoy over 20 % of the world-market share in the field of Biological
Safe Cabinets.
○ With development capabilities and technological strength cultivated by the global development,
they are actively expanding the line-up of the new products of cell culture related products like
CO2 incubator or ultra-low temperature freezer.
○ While strengthening cooperation with local sales distributors to collect information related tobiotechnology research and the latest technologies, they aim to provide further contribution tobiotechnology research and medical fields in Japan○ O-BIC provided information related to their establishment in Japan, as well as support forpromotion.

(Attachments)①FY 2011 O-BIC Major successful investments② List of FY2011 achievements③Outline of FY2012 first achievement-2-Total
280

Attachment 1

FY 2011 O-BIC Major Successful Investments
1. TÜV Rheinland Kansai Technology Center
A Germany based leading global third-party certification organizationthat provides technical services.
Location: Higashinari-ku, Osaka-shi (Floor area 2,571.10 m2)
Business: Evaluation and test of performance and safety forlithium-ion battery and solar power generation
Support: To receive subsidy from Osaka Prefecture (¥ 20 million)

2. ZebraJapan Co., Ltd.
A chain of 120 "Tiger" shops for popular Danish miscellaneous goods,
mainly in Europe (Danish version 100 yen shop)
Location: Osaka city (No.1 shop in Asia, to be opened this summer)
Business: After opening 3 shops in Osaka, to expand business (about 100shops) across Japan, including Tokyo.
Support: To provide financial assistance for company registration and VISA(¥ 150, 000) , public relations, information on authentication, business
partners etc3. Canadian Trade Office in Osaka (in the OCCI bldg)
On March 25, 2012, Japan Prime Minister Noda mentioned as follows
in a joint announcement with Canada Prime Minister Harper:“We are very happy that Canada has established the Osaka office in
the OCCI building to strengthen the commercial relationship between
the two countries"(Photo by Cabinet Public Relations Office)Location: OCCI building
Activities: Promotion of business, trade and investment and science and technology exchange
between Canada and Japan
Support: To carry out promotional activities, to offer benefits for the establishment, and to holdco-sponsored events etc.

4. Air Asia X opens Osaka Office
A Malaysian long-distance flight operator that is part of Asia’s biggest LCC
group, Air Asia.
Location: Izumisano-shi, Osaka
Business: LCC flight service between KIX and KL- 3 - seminar
Support: To help with PR, and to sponsor the CEO’s(300 participants at OCCI Hall)

Attachment 2Osaka Business and Investment Center (O-BIC)
Achievements in FY2011 (April 2011-March 2012)<By-Country/By-Industry at glance>
Cases of new Entry, figures in brackets ( )=FY2010
IT/Bio Tech/
R&D ※ChinaService1(1)Korea

2Trade3(1)(2)

Singapore
(2)

(4)

8(5)

4(6)

6(9)

0(1)

0(4)

1(0)

(2)

1(2)

(1)

1(1)

0(1)

1(0)

1(0)

1(0)

(1)
1Taiwan1Hong Kong

1(1)Hong Kong/Singapore

Malaysia

1

Mongolia

1

Philippines
North USA
Americ Canadaa
North America Total

11(2)

3

6(3)

2

9(14)

2(1)

10(0)

2(0)

0(0)

(1)
12(1)

1(0)

0(0)

(1)
(1)

Poland(1)England

21Denmark

Oceania(0) 20 (23)

(1)

Spain

Europe Total

02

ItaliaEurope(0)1France
Germany(4)(1)

(1)

11(1)

2(2)

0(0)

Total

4(1)

Indonesia

Asia Total

Others

(1)

India

Asia

Import/Sales/ Organizati
Manufacturing
ons/Agen/cies
Marketing4

Australia

(1)

0(2)

0(1)

(1)

4(1)

1(0)

5(1)

2(1)

1(1)

0(1)

0(1)

0(1)

3(2)

1(0)

7(7)

0(1)

0(1)

Oceania Total

0(0)

0(0)

0(0)

0(1)

0(0)

0(0)

Total

2(3)

7(6)

6(3)

15(17)

2(2)0(1) 32 (32)

※Include evaluation and test performance-4-Attachment 3

O-BIC The 1st promotional case in FY 2012

＜Head Office＞
Corporate Name: ESCO Micro Pte. Ltd.
Representative: Lin Xiang Qian
Address: 21 Changi South St. 1, Singapore 486777
Number of Employees: 650
Capital: approx. 418,000,000 yen（as of Feb. 2012）
Established: January 1984
Business Outline: A global player in containment, clean air and laboratory equipment
technology.

＜Osaka-Office＞
Corporate Name: ESCO JAPAN
Address:Asia Pacific Trade Center - ITM Bldg.５F-H-10-1,2-1-10 Nankoukita, Suminoe-ward
Osaka-city, Osaka, Japan 559-0034
TEL: 06-6346-9555
Representative: Eiji Uenaka-5-