Fair wind for Japanese firms

Improved business sentiment prompts companies to scale up their China operations

Most of the Japanese companies in China are willing to expand their operations, signaling improved business sentiment after a sharp contraction last year, a top Japanese trade official said on Wednesday.

Food and transportation equipment manufacturers showed the strongest desire to expand their business in China whereas export-oriented companies were less motivated, said Yoshihisa Tabata, director-general of the Beijing office of the Japan External Trade Organization, citing a survey conducted by the organization.