News
The number of overseas footholds that 406 member companies of Japan International Freight Forwarders Association Inc. （JIFFA） owned as of Jan. 1, 2012 reached 1,167, according to the association.
JIFFA conducts a survey among its members every other year to find out their business developments in other countries, and compiles a report from findings.
In breakdown, local affiliates amounted to 922, an increase of 78 from the last survey given in 2010. The 922 affiliates were operated in 42 nations by 152 members.
By country, there were 346 in China, a growth of 31; 39 in Vietnam, 13; and 87 in Thailand, five.
The number of local affiliates in other nations increased by one to two during the two years in other countries.
JIFFA discovered the 922 affiliates ran 2,110 branch offices, and that the 152 members owned a total of 3,032 subsidiaries and branch offices in other countries.
The 346 affiliates in China held the largest share, as they operated 672 branches, making the total number 1,018.
As for representative offices, which are deemed as business bases that JIFFA members operate in preparation for having local subsidiaries, the number declined from 2010 by eight to 245.
Three new offices were established in Bangladesh, which is becoming a new business target among Japanese enterprises, and two in Thailand and India each. On the other hand, 13 offices went out of operation in China, but they were upgraded into local affiliates.
