gE Blog Series: Olympic Cities Part 1 - Let's Do Business in Tokyo!

Tokyo was unsuccessful in becoming the host for the 2016 Summer Olympics but it is a city known for its success in many other areas, business in particular.

Tokyo is the political, economic, and cultural center of Japan - the world's second largest economy. Consequently, it is the consumption center of the country with a population of over 30 million, which also makes the city one of the world's largest consumer markets. Being a cosmopolitan city with diverse communities made up of foreigners from all over the world, is something that foreign companies find very attractive. Moreover, Tokyo provides an excellent business environment - ease of finding customers and partners, numerous venture capital firms and SMEs with unique technology, and ease of travel. Therefore, it is not surprising to learn that more than 70% of foreign-affiliated companies doing business in Japan are located in Tokyo. These firms include U.K. ones such as Barclays Ban PLC, German - Bayer Ltd., U.S. - IBM Japan Ltd. 

There is a wide variety of industries in Tokyo with a large concentration of corporate headquarters creating a plethora of economic activity. Other industries include transport and communication industries, retail, financial, and electronic device manufacturing. Furthermore, Tokyo is one of the world's largest exporters of manufactured goods such as electronics. The city hosts the largest trade fair in Asia which enables it to provide even more business opportunities. Technology is an important part of business in Japan and there are approximately 500,000 SMEs located in Tokyo. The annual Tokyo Industry Fair offers them the opportunity to exhibit their advanced technologies such as nanotechnology and robotics.

Tokyo provides excellent business opportunities and is the most attractive city to do business in Asia.