Office rents in Shibuya Station area still falling - (30/04/2010)
Closing
rents for large office buildings in the areas around Shibuya Station are
between 23,000 yen and 28,000 yen per tsubo [$72 to 88 per m2] as of April 1,
2010. This data is based on results of an interview survey conducted by the
Nikkei Real Estate Market Report on multiple real estate companies.
+ Japanese real estate fund to be managed by ING - (30/04/2010)
ING Real Estate
Investment Management has announced that it had taken on management of a
private real estate fund in Japan
known as Creed Real Estate Partners (CREP). The Fund is a USD 1.1 billion
closed-end value-added fund focusing on office, residential and retail assets
in Japan.
ING has changed the name of the fund to the Nozomi Real Estate Fund.
+ Towa Real Estate to construct 339 room nursing home & apartment complex - (29/04/2010)
Towa Real Estate Development has
teamed up with Mitsubishi Real Estate,
All Life Mate and Seirei Social Welfare Community to build
a new apartment and nursing home complex known as "MINASIA Shonan Town
Life". The site is located in Fujisawa City in Kanagawa Prefecture,
greater Tokyo and will feature 339 apartments and nursing home units in 4 tower
blocks over the 40,000 square meter site. Properties will be available from February
2011.
Summary:
* Property Name: MINASIA
Shonan Town Life
* 4 towers ranging from 4-12
stories above ground
* Total units: 339 units
(127 units Southfort, Pakufoto 132 units, 40 units Middofoto, Hiruzufu Oto 40
units)
* Location: Oba Fujisawa
* Transport: Tokaido Line
JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Enoshima Line, Yokohama Subway・Izumino Sagami Line "Shonandai" station
* Site area: 40,479.51m
* Typical Floor Area: 76.04
m - 107.59 m
* Design: Sumitomo Mitsui
Construction Co.,
* Construction: Yokohama
branch of Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co.,
* Joint Seller: Towa Real
Estate Development Co., Ltd
Source:
Joint Press Release
+ Has Japan’s Property Market Bottomed? - (27/04/2010)
Asset
Managers Holdings Co., Japan’s second-biggest publicly traded real estate
manager, said it’s seeking acquisitions and aims to invest as much as 60
billion yen ($645 million) in Tokyo commercial properties.
The
firm will target real estate investment trust managers and building management
businesses, spending about 2 billion yen on each takeover.
Asset
Managers will start new funds for the first time since the September 2008
collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. as credit becomes more available and
property prices fall. Japan’s 38 publicly traded real estate investment trusts
more than doubled property purchases in the first quarter to 229 billion yen,
according to IB Research and Consulting Inc.
“We’re
finally starting to feel that the real estate market is turning around, which
provides a good opportunity to start setting up new funds,” Iwasaki said.
Commercial
land prices in Japan fell to the lowest in at least 36 years in 2009. Kenedix
Inc., Japan’s biggest publicly traded real estate asset manager, and Chuo
Mitsui Trust & Banking Co., Japan’s third-largest trust bank by assets,
said in March they plan to start investing in property.
The
firm has retreated from overseas businesses to refocus on the domestic market
after the value of its funds’ assets declined to 340 billion yen at the end of
February from a peak of 530 billion yen in 2007.
It
will continue selling assets in China, Iwasaki said. The firm, which has a
capital alliance with the asset management unit of Citic International
Financial Holdings Ltd., has about 10 billion yen of assets in China.
Source:Bloomberg
+ Real Estate Funds return to Japanese commercial property - (27/04/2010)
CLSA
Capital Partners, a unit of Credit Agricole SA, aims to buy two to three
properties in Tokyo this year through an $816 million real estate fund as it
takes advantage of declining prices and a recovery in credit markets.
The
Fudo Capital II L.P. fund may invest about 200 billion yen ($2.1 billion)
including loans, said Hirotaka Uchiyama, the head of Fudo-Japan, CLSA Capital
Partners (Fudo) KK. The fund is the second set up by the alternative asset
management arm of CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets to focus on properties in the Asia-
Pacific region.
CLSA
Capital Partners is betting that commercial real estate prices in Japan will
recover as credit becomes more available after the global credit crisis and
after commercial land prices in the country fell to the lowest in at least 36
years in 2009.
“There
are various views on whether Japan’s property market has hit a bottom,”
Uchiyama, who joined CLSA Capital Partners last July, said in an interview in
Tokyo yesterday. “But the one thing that is common to everyone’s thinking is
that we’re definitely close, which gives risk takers like us a good
opportunity.” Japanese investments will make up a “sizeable portion” of the
fund because there is limited risk of further declines.
CLSA
Capital Partners closed the fund to new investors in November after raising
more than its target of $750 million and has already invested in two office
buildings, one in Sydney’s financial district and the other in Tokyo.
Kenedix
Inc., Japan’s biggest publicly traded real estate asset manager, and Chuo
Mitsui Trust & Banking Co., Japan’s third-largest trust bank by assets,
said in March they plan to start investing in property.
Source:
Bloomberg
+ China to lead asian and world economic recovery - (23/04/2010)
The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that China's economy is expected to grow
by 10 percent in 2010 underpinned by strong domestic demand. The report also states
that Asia's GDP is projected to grow by 7 percent in both 2010 and 2011 and the
strength of domestic demand in China
is expected to have positive spillovers for other Asian economies, particularly
exporters of commodities and capital goods.
"In China, GDP
growth exceeded the government's 8 percent target in 2009 and is expected to be
close to 10 percent in both 2010 and 2011. What has been so far mainly a
publicly driven growth path, built on infrastructure investment, is expected to
turn toward stronger private consumption and investment," said the IMF in
its latest World Economic Outlook report.
"Boosting
domestic consumption will be a priority in China, through improved access to
finance for small enterprises and households and stronger corporate governance
and social safety nets to reduce precautionary saving," said the IMF.
In the report,
the IMF said "the global recovery has evolved better than expected, with
activity recovering at varying speeds, tepidly in many advanced economies but
solidly in most emerging and developing economies."
The world
economy, which declined by 0.6 percent in 2009, will recover gradually in 2010
and 2011, growing by 4.2 percent and 4.3 percent respectively, said the IMF.
Source: China Daily
+ DHL Chief Optimistic About Recovery - (22/04/2010)
DHL chief Frank Appel believes the worst is over and that economic
recovery is on the horizon.
Appel expressed his optimism in a speech to the US Chamber of
Commerce, during which he said DHL was prepared for growth in all four
businesses units in the US - Express, its international courier service, DHL
Global Forwarding and DHL Global Mail.
He added that free trade is a key component of sustainable
economic growth, making it vital that governments around the world work toward
reducing or modifying trade barriers like customs duties and competing trade
regulations. The DHL CEO said he backs President Barack Obama's national export
initiative which aims to double US exports in the next five years.
"The worst seems to be over, and there are clear signs of an
economic comeback on the horizon," said Appel.
+ Kuehne + Nagel Back On Track - (22/04/2010)
Kuehne + Nagel returned to growth in the first quarter with sales
up 7.3% compared to the same period a year earlier.
First quarter sales grew to CHF 4,604 million, but EBITA slipped
from CHF 230 million in the previous year to CHF 228 million.
The company said demand in its global seafreight business
experienced a turnaround in the first quarter, growing some 12%. Kuehne + Nagel
moved 17% more containers during the quarter, with the highest growth recorded
in the export business to China and on all export routes from Asia. Continued
rate increases, however, put profit margins under further pressure. As a
result, EBITDA slipped by 4.9% compared to the previous year, and the EBITDA
margin declined 5.3% to 4.9%.
The company's airfreight business also saw a marked improvement in
the quarter, rising some 31% in tonnage.
The economic recovery was also felt in contract logistics, albeit
hesitantly. Kuehne + Nagel said turnover and results were stable during the
first three months, although North America results were negatively influenced
by insufficient warehouse space utilisation and start up costs for new
business. EBITDA margin was at 4.2%, slipping slightly from the previous year's
4.5%.
"Our group is back on course for growth thanks to the
economic recovery and measures we introduced in 2009," said Reinhard
Lange, CEO of Kuehne + Nagel International. "Indications are getting
stronger that the global economy and logistics-related parameters are
stabilising. We are, therefore, confident of our ability of reaching our goal
of above-market average profitable growth in all business units."
+ TNT plans to move its China hub to Shenzhen - (21/04/2010)
TNT
recently signed an agreement with ShenzhenAirport on building a
distribution centre, becoming the fourth express delivery giant of after FedEx,
DHL and UPS to launch facility there.
TNT
launched additional two freight flights from Hong Kong to Europe at the end of
last year, and is set to build a special warehouse area in the airport in a bid
to meet delivery demands and facilitate transportation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
The
warehouse area, covering 1,300 square metres, is expected to be under
construction mid April and open before the end of the year. TNT will move its
distribution centre from Guangzhou
to Shenzhen, sources from the airport say.
Together
with domestic companies such as SF Express and Sinotrans, the top four players
of the sector worldwide, including FedEx, DHL, UPS, TNT, have rolled out
express delivery operations in the Shenzhen airport so far.
+ Matsuya Foods to build 47 million USD plant & integrated logistics centre in Saitama - (21/04/2010)
Matsuya
Foods a Japanese wholesale and restaurant business has announced plans to
strengthen and streamline production and distribution with a view to expanding
operations in the future. The new industrial property located in north Tokyo will feature an integrated
logistics center and food production centre.
+ New 35,000m2 distribution centre opens in Tokyo - (20/04/2010)
ProLogis a global provider of industrial real
estate and distribution facilities announced the completion of the new "Ebina
ProLogis" facility located in EbinaCity south west of Tokyo.
Attending the ceremony were Mr Taki Masami -
President Kirin Logistics Co., Mr Shiroi Motoyuki CEO & Managing Director
from Fujita Corporation who were the builders and Mr Mike Yamada - President &
CEO of ProLogis Japan.
The new distribution centre will be used by
Kirin Logistics Co., Ltd. as a base for storing and shipping products of Kirin
Beverage Co., Ltd.
Building Summary
Name: ProLogis
Ebina
Location :
6-2-1 Ebina, Kadosawabashi, Kanagawa
Site area: 35,470m2
(approximately 10,729 tsubo)
Total floor area: 35,484 m2 (approximately 10,734 tsubo)
Structure: S
Building, part two-storey RC Building
+ Tokyo industrial property acquired from Itochu - (20/04/2010)
Mapletree
Investments Pte Ltd has acquired an industrial property from ITOCHU Corp and
ITOCHU Property Development, Ltd in Tokyo,
Japan.
The 5-storey
building known as ‘IXINAL Monzen-Nakacho’ is a purpose-built light industrial
building located in Tokyo.
It houses a corporate headquarters, information systems development and
operations data centre. The building also obtained a ‘CASBEE A’ rank because of
its energy saving features.
Phua Kok Kim,
CEO of Mapletree Industrial said, “We are pleased to acquire this high quality
property which will add to Mapletree's portfolio of assets in Japan.The acquisition of this property from our
strategic partner, ITOCHU Corp also reinforces our strong relationship which
extends beyond our collaboration in the logistics market in Japan and other parts of Asia.”
Summary
Completed: September 2009
Location: No. 4 & 5 Fukuzumi
2-chome, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Site area: 2,787.72 square meters
(approximately 843.28 tsubo)
Total floor area: 9,156.63 square meters
(approximately 2,769.88 tsubo)
+ China expects foreign trade volume of USD 5.3 trillion 2020 - (20/04/2010)
A research
report of China's
foreign trade sector predicted the world's largest exporter would more than
double its foreign trade volume by 2020 to 5.3 trillion USD dollars.
It also called
on China
to improve the quality of foreign trade sector and to lower import tariffs to
promote the nation's trade balance.
The report,
jointly compiled by researchers with think-tanks under the Ministry of
Commerce, the Ministry of Finance, and the ChineseAcademy
of Social Sciences predicts merchandise exports to top other countries and be
2.4 trillion U.S. dollars in 2020. This represents 10.1 percent of the world
total, while imports will reach 1.9 trillion U.S. dollars and rank second
largest, accounting for 8.2 percent of the world total.
The report was
seen by analysts and officials as a "road map" which lays out a
theoretical basis for the reforms in China's trade policies and
mechanisms over the next decade.
Weighed on by
the global downturn, China's
foreign trade contracted to a three-decade low in 2009, with total volume down
13.9 percent year on year to 2.2 trillion U.S. dollars.
Analysts said
the downturn had prompted China
to adjust its exports structure, and shift focus on high-end manufacturing,
energy-saving and environment-friendly industries and developing modern service
industries.
Li Gang, a
leading writer of the report, said the global downturn has phased out a number
of backward and less competitive enterprises while offering great opportunities
for innovative enterprises.
Source: China Daily
+ 1.52 B Yen Tokyo land bought for industrial real estate project - (19/04/2010)
Daisyo
Corporation, a Japanese wholesale and restaurant business with around 1000
outlets in Tokyo and the surrounding areas has
announced the purchase of Tokyo
land in Adachi-ku, for the construction of a new industrial real estate
project. The site was purchased for approximately 15.5 million USD and will
feature a new office and logistics center that will consolidate existing
facilities thereby enhancing the efficiency of the wholesale business group.
Property
Summary
Location: 6-2-5
Iriya, Adachi-ku, Tokyo
Site Area: 9,901.51
square meters (2,995.21 tsubo)
Building Use:
Warehouse and office
Building size:
approximately 4,000 square meters (tentative)
+ $200 million data center to be built in Tokyo, Japan - (19/04/2010)
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI) has
decided to build its new data center in TamaCity, Tokyo. This will be NRI’s fifth data center
in Japan
and the fourth in the metropolitan area.
In addition to serving as a base for NRI’s
expanding outsourcing business, the new data center will function as a core
center for cloud services.
NRI will invest about 20 billion yen in
constructing this new data center, which is scheduled to be completed in fiscal
2012.
Summary
Location: TamaCity, Tokyo
Site area: 19,496.3 m2
Scheduled completion date: 2012
Source: Nomura Research Institute
+ Tokyo industrial real estate vacancy rate at 15.3% - (18/04/2010)
According to
recent data from CBRE average vacancy rate for large-scale multi-tenant
warehouse and distribution facilities in Tokyo
rose 1.1 point to 15.3%. The data although from a small sample of 49 properties
highlights that some existing facilities had large vacancies but the rate of
increase was modest as new facilities (built within one year) begin to take up
vacant space.
Overall tenant
activity remains relatively weak apart from online retailers and catalogue
companies who continue to see growth in their warehousing needs. Many Japanese corporations
are looking to reduce costs by relocating and consolidating their bases to
higher quality facilities which has led to a steady take-up at large-scale facilities.
Although vacancies were taken-up at large-scale facilities the contracted rents
were reportedly highly discounted.
Vacancy for
existing facilities rose 1.5 points to 8.3%. Although overall tenant activity
was limited, vacancy trended slightly upward due to a take-up at new
facilities, indicating a continuing market growth. However considering that the
growth in large-scale market is mainly due to consolidation in small and
medium-sized facilities, there remains a concern over supply-demand balance for
small and medium-sized facilities may worsen after tenants have relocated to
larger facilities.
Source: CBRE
with comments from Bear Logi
+ $1 billion Japan real estate fund - Sumitomo Trust and AXA - (18/04/2010)
Sumitomo Trust
& Banking and AXA Real Estate Investment Managers of the AXA Group signed a
joint agreement in March 2010. This agreement outlining their fund targeting
real estate in Japan
and their individual responsibilities is based on the basic agreement exchanged
by the two companies in October 2009, aiming at equity of 50 billion yen ($520
million) and an AUM of 100 billion yen ($1 billion).
Source: Nikkei
+ New commercial real estate precinct planned for Tokyo - (17/04/2010)
Tokyo
– A new commercial, office and entertainment precinct with environmentally
friendly features is to be built in Odaiba, located in the central area of the Tokyo
waterfront. The development is a partnership between 4 Japanese companies:
Mitsui Fudosan, Daiwa House, Sankei Building, and Fuji TV. The complex is
scheduled to be completed for opening in spring 2012.
The
site covers 33,000 square meters and features a 9 story commercial building and
21 story office building. The theme for the site is "theatrical urban
space." The middle of the site will have a "Festival Plaza" that
will encompass fashion, entertainment, restaurants etc and hold large events
throughout the year produced by Fuji TV.
The
project will utilize environmentally friendly ‘eco buildings’ with roof top
gardens, roof top vegetable growing areas, solar panels and wind turbines.
Source:
Sankei
+ Sagawa Global Logistics establishes new Logistics Centre in Shanghai China - (16/04/2010)
Japan’s Sagawa Global Logistics Group, has opened a new distribution
center in Shanghai, China to support its local 3PL
operations.
Sagawa plans to
expand their international logistics business and operations in and around China's coastal
regions. The opening of the Shanghai
distribution center reflects this.
The Taopu
distribution center is located in the northwest of Shanghai,
40 minutes by car from Shanghai city center,
situated in a very convenient location just 30 minutes from HongqiaoAirport
in Shanghai.
The huge China market has attracted many Japanese
companies which are looking for shippers around Shanghai. Many Japanese businesses are
expanding their shops and mail order businesses and therefore need logistics
services in China.
The requirements for logistic services are not only from Japan to China
but China to Japan and Chinese
Domestic.
By providing
the same quality service Sagawa offers in Japan,
they hope to expand to customers across China
with their foothold in Shanghai.
Summary
Name of
facility : TaopuDistributionCenter
Location: LogisticsPark
North, Phase II, Taopu, Shanghai
+ Chinese economy continues to expand - (15/04/2010)
China's economy continued to expand in the
first quarter of 2010 according to the China National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS). The growth rate was 11.9 percent year on year to 8.06 trillion yuan
($1.19 trillion), which is 5.7 percentage points higher than the same period
last year.
China's consumer price index (CPI), a main
gauge of inflation, rose 2.4 percent year on year in March, 0.7 percentage
points lower than the previous month. CPI
for the first quarter was however up 2.2 percent.
The producer
price index (PPI), a major measure of inflation at the wholesale level, rose
5.9 percent in March from a year earlier.
+ Investment in Chinese Real Estate sets new records - (15/04/2010)
According to
the latest real estate data released by China's
National Bureau of Statistics, home prices in China's
70 large and medium-sized cities including Beijing,
Shanghai and Guangzhou increased 11.7 percent in March
from a year earlier. This was a new record and beat the previous growth rate of
11.3 percent set in January 2008.
Prices of new
homes nationwide rose 14.2 percent in March year on year, with newly built
condominiums prices rising 15.9%.
Chinese
industry officials, under these circumstances, could expect to prolong measures
to curb the heated real estate investment market.
+ Deutsche Post and Volkswagen announce new 5 year contract - (13/04/2010)
Germany's Deutsche
Post AG and automobile manufacturer Volkswagen AG are stepping up their
long-standing cooperation with a five-year contract valid as of April 1, 2010.
·Under the contract,
DHL Supply Chain - the specialist for contract logistics within the Deutsche
Post DHL Group - will provide a major part of the in-plant logistics for the
Volkswagen assembly plant in Bratislava, Slovakia.
·DHL was awarded the
business following a competitive international tender process.
·Some 800 DHL employees
will manage in-plant logistics for 50 % of the production materials of the
models produced by the Volkswagen Group in Slovakia's capital; this involves
engines, gear boxes and windscreens for the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and
Volkswagen Touareg.
·Services provided will
include inbound receiving, put away and storage, picking and kitting,
sequencing and line-side deliveries directly to the Volkswagen production
lines.
Source: Dow Jones
+ China tops Global Property Sustainability Survey - (13/04/2010)
The fourth quarter RICS Global Property Sustainability Survey
shows that the vast majority of real estate investors place ‘some to
considerable’ importance on sustainability issues.
According to real estate agents, Chinese, South African and
Japanese clients put particularly heavy importance on sustainability issues.
56% of survey respondents in China rated sustainability as “Very Important” to
their clients, whereas in Hong Kong, the same number of respondents rated
sustainability as of average importance.
Investment return and business profit were the main reason driving
clients’ sustainability agenda. On average, energy efficiency was the most
important sustainability issue for respondents’. In China, transport issues
were the most important sustainability issue.
The survey shows that sustainable development will be a major
focus among property developers and investors in the coming decades due to
increased awareness on climate change. Asian countries such as Japan, China,
Hong Kong and Singapore are among the top countries having awareness on
sustainability according to the survey.
+ ULI Japan's Young Leaders Event – FUKUOKA! - (13/04/2010)
With its long history as the gateway city to Asia, Fukuoka is now considered
one of the “Most Livable Cities” in the world.
We would like to invite you to a panel discussion event featuring
representatives from Fukuoka REIT, KyushuUniversity, Fukuoka Urban Laboratory
and the Fukuoka City Government, to see what keeps FukuokaCity
competitive.
This is a rare chance to discuss issues currently faced by
the Japanese real estate market such as sustainable development, demographics,
and sustainable business opportunities, with our expert panelists:
Koichiro Aitani – Associate Professor, Department of
Architecture and Urban Design, Faculty of Human-Environment Studies, KyushuUniversity
Toshiaki Amamoto – Director, Section for Attracting
Foreign & Domestic Enterprises, FukuokaCity Government
Taichi Goto – Principal, Fukuoka Urban Laboratory
General Manager, Tenjin
Meiji-dori Ave. Development Council
Masayasu Saki – CEO and Representative Director, Fukuoka REIT
ULI will be giving away TWO FREE PASSES to the ULI Japan
Summer Conference to attendees in a random drawing. Don’t miss out on this
opportunity! Be there!
Discussion Points:
·How has Fukuoka
executed sustainable urban development?
·What ingredients make Fukuoka
a more “LivableCity”?
·How will Fukuoka remain Japan’s gateway city to Asia
with increased domestic competition?
·How will the city respond to Japan’s changing
demographics?
·How has the city promoted the investment to become a
global “retail city”? What opportunities still await in this sector?
Location: Daiwa House Tokyo Office – Thursday, April 22, 2010
18:30-19:00 Reception
19:00-19:30 Panel
Discussion
19:30-20:10 Q&A
Session with Participants
20:00-21:00 Networking
reception (same venue)
YLG Members 3,500
yen
ULI Members 4,500
yen
JIA Members 5,000
yen
Non-members 6,000
yen
Register Today! Space is Limited!
* Please contact the ULI Japan office if you have any
questions regarding the event, or if you would like to register.
** Drinks and finger food will be provided.
*** Consecutive interpreting will be provided.
*** Participation is limited to the first 50 registrants.
·Please complete payment of
the participation fee via bank transfer to the ULI account (please contact ULI for
details).
· ULI is unable to accept cash
payments at the door on the day of the event.
·If you wish to have an
invoice issued, please contact the ULI Japan office and they will be happy
to issue.
+ ULI Japan event - Fukuoka, Japanese Real Estate Market - (12/04/2010)
With its long history as the gateway city to Asia, Fukuoka is now considered
one of the “Most Livable Cities” in the world.
We would like to invite you to a panel discussion event featuring
representatives from Fukuoka REIT, KyushuUniversity, Fukuoka Urban Laboratory
and the Fukuoka City Government, to see what keeps FukuokaCity
competitive.
This is a rare chance to discuss issues currently faced by
the Japanese real estate market such as sustainable development, demographics,
and sustainable business opportunities, with our expert panelists:
Koichiro Aitani – Associate Professor, Department of
Architecture and Urban Design, Faculty of Human-Environment Studies, KyushuUniversity
+ China encourages green investment - (12/04/2010)
A Chinese economic policymaking official released at the
Boao Forum for Asia 2010 that China
is going to issue a new foreign investment policy next week in order to lure
quality and environmentally friendly foreign investment.
"China encourages foreign investment in hi-tech,
environmentally friendly industries instead of industries that consume energy
and resources excessively and cause pollution," said Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice
minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top
economic policymaker, at the Boao Forum for Asia 2010 in Boao, Hainan Province.Zhang also said a new foreign investment policy will be coming out
soon next week in an attempt to lure high-quality, environmentally friendly
foreign investment and to promote sustainable, eco-efficient use of natural
resources. China needs to transform itself from an excessive energy consumer
and polluter to an economy that relies more on high technologies, from a world
factory to a domestic consumption-oriented one, Zhang said.
Zhang said it was
"imperative" to do so. In 2009, China's GDP was US$4.7 trillion, or
8 percent of the world's total. But it consumed 18 percent of world's energy
resources and was the world's largest emitter of sulfur dioxide.
Zhang said China faces
opportunities and challenges for this transformation. He said that while China has
opportunities to develop a green and consumer-oriented economy, there is
relatively low innovation and incorporation of new technologies into the
economy.
In
addition to the government policy support mentioned by Zhang, Daigee Shaw,
president of Taiwan-based Chung-Hua Institute for Economic Research and a
panelist at the forum, said the practical way to develop a green economy is by
increasing prices for energy and resources. This would push every industry and
individual to conserve them.
Shaw said he doesn't advocate
government subsidies that many countries, including China, have for the green industry
because it's neither a long-term nor practical way to green growth.
The BFA, established in 2001, is a
pan-Asian platform of dialogue for key issues affecting Asia
and the world. The theme of this year's meeting is "Green Recovery: Asia's Realistic Choice for Sustainable Growth."
Source: China Daily
+ New industrial economic zone created in China's northeast - (09/04/2010)
The Shenyang
experimental economic zone plan has been approved by the State Council for
northeast China's Liaoning Province, making the Shenyang economic zone the
eighth experimental reform region in China, according to the governor of
Liaoning Province.
The theme of the
zone's reform plan is "new industrialization," emphasizing
information technology in the region's industrial upgrading.
The Shenyang economic zone, centered on Shenyang
city, covers an area of 75,000 square kilometers and includes seven other
cities, namely Anshan, Fushun,
Benxi, Yingkou, Fuxin,
Liaoyang and
Tieling.
The population of
the economic zone is 23.59 million, with 65 percent residing in urban areas.
The area's gross domestic product in 2009 was estimated at 998.47 billion yuan.
+ Sony launches production & logistics environmental plan - (08/04/2010)
Sony launches "Road to Zero"
environmental plan
Sony
Corporation today announced its "Road to Zero" global environmental
plan. The plan includes a long-term goal of achieving a zero environmental
footprint by 2050. Sony's definition of zero environmental footprint is not
only limited to the neutralization of carbon emissions, but also extends to
waste and use of finite materials such as oil-derived virgin plastics.
Targets are
based on four environmental perspectives
1) climate
change,
2) resource
conservation,
3) control of
chemical substances and;
4) biodiversity
- across all product lifecycle stages, from research and development to
recycling.
The mid-term
targets will be implemented globally across the Sony Group beginning in fiscal
year 2011 (April 2011), and will extend through the end of fiscal year 2015
(March 2016), at which time new targets for the following 5 years will be set.
Specific mid-term targets include:
* 30% reduction in annual energy
consumption of products (compared to fiscal 2008) * 10% reduction in product mass
(compared to fiscal 2008) * 50% absolute reduction in waste
generation (compared to fiscal 2000) * 30% absolute reduction in water
consumption (compared to fiscal 2000) * 14% reduction in total CO2 emissions
associated with all transportation and logistics (compared to fiscal 2008) * 16% reduction in incoming parts
packaging waste (compared to fiscal 2008) * Increase of waste recycle ratio to 99%
or more * 5% reduction in utilization ratio of
virgin oil-based plastics in products (compared to fiscal 2008) * Assessment of impact of resource
procurement and facility construction on biodiversity, and promotion of
biodiversity programs such as groundwater cultivation * Minimization of the risk of chemical
substances through preventive measures; reduction in use of specific chemicals
defined by Sony; and promotion of use of alternative materials.
Sony has
already made significant progress in reducing its environmental impact around
the world. Sony's European sites, for example, have reduced their CO2 emissions
from electricity use and facility heating by approximately 93% between fiscal
years 2000 and 2009.
In Japan, Sony is the only company that voluntarily
collects used small-sized consumer electronics on an experimental basis jointly
with a municipality, KitakyushuCity in southern Japan. Gold, silver, bronze and
palladium are extracted from the products discarded by city residents and are
subsequently reused by Sony.
In addition,
the new VAIO W eco edition, launched in most major global markets this year and
designed to be the industry's most environmentally friendly laptop, features
recycled plastic parts, an electronic manual and an innovative carry-bag that
saves 10% in CO2 emissions during production.
Sony's fiscal
year 2015 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and power consumption per
product were reviewed and approved by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
This casual event is open to anyone with an interest in logistics real estate
and supply chain issues in Japan and is a great opportunity to network and
exchange ideas.
We hope to see
you there!
Bear Logi
Co.,Ltd
+ China’s logistics & construction sector PMI rises to 58.4% in March - (07/04/2010)
China's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) of the non-manufacturing
sector rose to 58.4 percent in March, a recovery of 12 percentage points from
February, when the index fell below the boom-bust line of 50 percent for the
first time since a year earlier.
The PMI, designed to provide a real-time snapshot of business
conditions, includes indices for new orders, inventory levels, production and
others that measure economic performance. A reading of above 50 percent
suggests expansion, while one below 50 percent indicates contraction.
The rise of the index indicated robust market activities in service
sectors, which combined with an optimistic outlook that would encourage private
investment and promote healthy and coordinated development of national economy,
said the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) vice president Cai
Jin.
According to the CFLP survey, the new order sub-index for China's
non-manufacturing sector climbed to 54.6 percent last month, up 8.4 percentage
points than February. The outlook sub-index was 70.4 percent, up 2.4 percentage
points.
The CFLP survey covers 20 non-manufacturing industries, including
logistics, wholesale, hospitality, supermarkets and construction.
The PMI for manufacturing sectors rose to 55.1 percent in March, the
13th straight month that the index was above 50 percent.
+ ULI Japan Real Estate Summer Conference 2010 - (07/04/2010)
Date: Thursday, July 8 09:45 – 20:00
Location: Tokyo Midtown Hall & Conference
Description: Welcome Addresses
Hitoshi Saito – ULI Japan Council Chairman and Executive
Managing Officer, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. (Mitsui Real Estate Co.)
Two Keynote Speakers will address the ULI Japan
Summer Conference 2010
1) Jitsuro Terashima, Chairman of the Japan
Research Institute.
One of Japan’s foremost global
strategists, Terashima is a close advisor to Japanese Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama. In a recent article, Terashima decried the idea of Japan continuing
to be in lockstep with the U.S., advocating the development of a post Cold-War
foreign policy framework and Japan’s serving as a bridge between the U.S. and Asia,
while also monitoring and contributing to the evolution of America’s growing
relationship with China, and lending support to China in its emergence as a
member of the international society in the new global order.
Terashima’s address will be followed by a panel
of successful corporate leaders discussing the future of Japan and their
recipes for growth. Following lunch, ULI Japan will present two panel
discussions – the first on the internationalization of Haneda Airport and its
effects on Japan’s economy and real estate market as well as on Japan’s
position in Asia, and the second covering global and Japanese capital market
status, trends and forecasts, joined by industry experts live from London with
the aid of a cutting-edge remote connection.
2) Peter Tasker, a leading authority on
Japanese equity markets and the Japanese economy, discussing how Japan can pull
itself out of its present lethargy and achieve the robust success of the past.
Tasker has been ranked one of the top equity
strategists by Japanese institutional investors for several years, and is a
founding partner of Arcus Investments which specializes in value investment in
Japanese securities. Tasker, a Newsweek Japan columnist for more than a decade,
has written numerous books on the Japanese economy, including Japan In Play
(1999) and Japan 2020 (1997). Tasker will share with us his unique, captivating
view of the present day as well as his optimism for the future.
We welcome speakers and attendees to join us at
the reception, to be held on the 4th floor of Tokyo Midtown following the
conclusion of the regular program.
+ Chinese firm buys Japanese auto parts factory - (07/04/2010)
In what is going to be an ever-more frequent
occurrence, Chinese auto/battery manufacturer BYD has said it will buy a
factory from auto die maker Ogihara Corporation, for an undisclosed sum.
BYD
says it will use the factory to produce high-precision metal dies for its
Chinese plants. The factory was one of Ogihara's four domestic die
manufacturing operations, accounting for 20% of the company's domestic
production capacity.
+ FOODEX JAPAN 2010 EXHIBITION - (04/04/2010)
Exhibition:
FOODEX JAPAN 2010 (The 35th International Food & Beverage Exhibition)
Date:March 2 - 5, 2010
Time:10:00-17:00
Venue: Makuhari Messe (Halls 1-8)
Exhibits: Agricultural Products, Breads and
Cereals, Confectionery, Dairy Products, Delicatessen, Dietetic Products, Eggs
and Poultry, Frozen Food Products, Fruits and Vegetables, Herbs and Spices,
Ingredients, Meat and Meat Products, Oils, Organic Products, Seafood, Seasonings
and Condiments, Soup Stock
Beverage:Beer,
Brandy, Liqueurs, Spirits, Whiskey, Wine, Coffee and Tea, Fruit Juice, Mineral
Water, Soft Drinks
+ Mitsubishi to launch Japanese property investment fund - (02/04/2010)
Diamond Realty Management Inc,
a wholly owned unit of Mitsubishi Corp , has created an unlisted real estate
fund specializing in logistics facilities.
The
warehouse investment fund will have overall assets of about 23.4 billion yen
($259.2 million). Mitsubishi
will invest in it, as will institutional investors and pension funds in Japan and others. The fund is to be operated for five years and will invest in five logistics warehouses: four in greater Tokyo
and one in Kyushu.
The
company aims to more than double assets under management to 500 billion yen in
three years by launching more funds.
Source:
Nikkei & Diamond Realty Management
+ Japan Real Estate Trusts Double Investment into Property - (02/04/2010)
Japan’s 38 publicly traded
real estate investment trusts more than doubled the purchase of property in the
first quarter as credit conditions eased, a research firm said. Acquisitions
totaled 229 billion yen ($2.45 billion) in the three months ended yesterday,
compared with 108 billion yen a year earlier, according to data provided by IB
Research and Consulting Inc. Thirty-nine properties were bought, the most since
the third quarter of 2008 when the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
froze global credit markets. “We
are expecting this recovery trend to continue,” Daisuke Seki, chief executive
officer of the Tokyo-based firm, said in an e-mail. “The pick-up in the
fundraising environment has helped.”
The
increase in purchases came as the nation recovered from recession and the
government started a fund to provide financing for the REIT sector in
September. The benchmark TSE REIT Index, which is at less than half its 2007
peak, has gained 5.2 percent this year.
Japan property trusts were
most active in 2006, buying 563 properties. In 2009, the number of acquisitions
plunged to 57, IB Research said. REITs derive most of their profit from rental
income and pay out the majority of it as dividends.
Japan opened the REIT market
in September 2001, with its first two REITs, Nippon Building Fund Inc. and
Japan Real Estate Investment Corp., playing catch-up in developing the
securities pioneered by the U.S.
in the 1960s. The
TSE REIT Index had a record value of about 6.79 trillion yen in May 2007,
compared with about 2.9 trillion yen today.
+ Eco Products Japan 2010 - (01/04/2010)
Title:
The 12th Eco-Products 2010 Exhibition
Date:
December 9 -11, 2010 10:00a.m.-6:00p.m.
Venue:
TokyoInternationalExhibitionCenter
"TOKYO BIG
SIGHT" (East Hall)
Organized
by: Japan
Environmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI) Nikkei
Inc.
+ ULI Japan Real Estate Summer Conference 2010 - (01/04/2010)
Date:
Thursday, July 8 09:45 – 20:00
Location:
Tokyo Midtown Hall & Conference
Description:
Welcome Addresses
Hitoshi
Saito – ULI Japan
Council Chairman and Executive Managing Officer, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
(Mitsui Real Estate Co.)
Two
Keynote Speakers will address the ULI Japan Summer Conference 2010
1)
Jitsuro Terashima, Chairman of the Japan Research Institute.
One
of Japan’s
foremost global strategists, Terashima is a close advisor to Japanese Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama. In a recent article, Terashima decried the idea of
Japan continuing to be in lockstep with the U.S., advocating the development of
a post Cold-War foreign policy framework and Japan’s serving as a bridge
between the U.S. and Asia, while also monitoring and contributing to the
evolution of America’s growing relationship with China, and lending support to
China in its emergence as a member of the international society in the new
global order.
Terashima’s
address will be followed by a panel of successful corporate leaders discussing
the future of Japan
and their recipes for growth. Following lunch, ULI Japan will present two panel
discussions – the first on the internationalization of Haneda Airport and its
effects on Japan’s economy and real estate market as well as on Japan’s
position in Asia, and the second covering global and Japanese capital market
status, trends and forecasts, joined by industry experts live from London with
the aid of a cutting-edge remote connection.
2)
Peter Tasker, a leading authority on Japanese equity markets and the Japanese
economy, discussing how Japan
can pull itself out of its present lethargy and achieve the robust success of
the past.
Tasker
has been ranked one of the top equity strategists by Japanese institutional
investors for several years, and is a founding partner of Arcus Investments
which specializes in value investment in Japanese securities. Tasker, a
Newsweek Japan columnist for more than a decade, has written numerous books on
the Japanese economy, including Japan In Play (1999) and Japan 2020 (1997).
Tasker will share with us his unique, captivating view of the present day as
well as his optimism for the future.
Speakers and attendees may also attend a reception, to be held on the
4th floor of Tokyo Midtown following the conclusion of the regular program.