Japanese Firms in Contemporary Singapore

Hiroshi Shimizu

This pioneering work discusses the role of Japan in the economic development of Singapore since 1965 by looking at the nature and extent of the value-added activities of Japanese multinational corporations (MNCs) in the manufacturing, construction, and retailing sectors. Japan’s economic presence and influence were very strong in Singapore during this period. The city-state was a major recipient of Japanese foreign direct investment in Asia, and was also an important overseas customer for Japanese manufacturing and construction firms.

In this book, Hiroshi Shimizu examines the value-added activities of Japanese multinational corporations in Singapore, drawing on case studies of leading companies such as Minebea, Pokka Corporation, Kikkoman, Bridgestone, and Isetan. He uses this information to analyse Japanese foreign direct investment in Singapore as part of an Asian or global strategy, explaining competition and co-operation between Japanese MNCs and local firms, and evaluating various factors that led to a decline of Japan and the rise in the importance of China in Singapore, particularly since the late 1990s.

Hiroshi SHIMIZU is Professor of Asian Economics and Economic History in the Faculty and Graduate School of Studies in Contemporary Society at Aichi Shukutoku University, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

publication year: 2008
304 pages
ISBN: 978-9971-69-384-8  Paperback  US$30.00  S$38.00