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In cooperation with Representative Offices in Bangkok and Shanghai as well as other relevant organizations overseas, the SME Unit provides support for the solving various business challenges faced by SMEs in expanding their businesses overseas.

Case Example of SME Unit's Support for Solving Business Challenges (Representative Office in Bangkok)

Business Challenge

Upon receiving a request from a trading partner to manufacture and deliver products in Thailand in 10 months' time, Company A had to quickly look into expanding to Thailand. Therefore Company A requested the trading branch of the SME Unit for support to conduct a feasibility study.

Support from the SME Unit

With the suggestion from the trading branch of the SME Unit, Company A visited the Bangkok Representative Office of JFC. Together with JFC staff, Company A met with the management executives of the industrial park and the local subsidiary of Company A's trading partner. During the visit, they gathered specific information having overseas expansion in mind. Putting together the overseas expansion plan, the company decided to set up a factory in Thailand. The SME Unit then provided funds (Loans for Overseas Investment) for Company A to set up the factory concerned.

Cooperation with APEC Financial Institutions Dealing with SMEs

To promote cooperation with SME-related financial institutions within the APEC region, the SME Unit signed an MOU(Note) with 14 financial institutions in the region, including the China Development Bank (CDB) and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank). The SME Unit attends the annual meeting and engages in technical cooperation and information exchange.

Note: Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation among APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Financial Institutions Dealing with SMEs.

Cooperation with ACSIC Member Institutions

The Asian Credit Supplementation Institution Confederation (ACSIC) comprises 16 institutions including the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT), PT. Asuransi Kredit Indonesia (PT. Askrindo) and Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG). As an ACSIC member, the SME Unit attends the annual conference and actively encourages mutual exchange with institutions engaged in implementing the Credit Supplementation System.

In November 2013, the Higashiosaka Branch of the SME Unit collaborated with JETRO to hold the Overseas Development Seminar.

At this seminar, JETRO gave a speech regarding the latest economic situation in Thailand and Vietnam and introduced examples of companies which have expanded there.

Business Network Meeting in Shenzhen

The SME Unit has held Business Network Meetings (seminars and social gatherings) with the local subsidiaries of client companies in various countries/regions to support them to solve managerial issues and to exchange information.

  A Business Network Meeting was held in Shenzhen, P.R.China, in March 2014 with the support of the Shenzhen Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Approximately 70 people participated in the meeting where various experts gave lectures on themes such as "Recent Tax Inquiries and Customs Inspection Points" and "Risk Management in P.R.China (Local Risk Countermeasures, etc. )."