Japanese firms' sentiments for ASEAN improve: JETRO

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Negative business sentiment for Japanese companies operating in five ASEAN economies eased slightly in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore this month, according to a survey conducted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) early this month.

The survey, which provides a monthly index of year-on-year changes in the business outlook, showed that current sentiment had improved 11.3 points to -19.1 in Indonesia since December, JETRO said in its statement available on its website www.jetro.go.jp.

In the same period, sentiment in Malaysia improved 7.7 points to -64.8, and 7.5 points to -59.7 in Singapore.

The index remained relatively stable in Thailand (down -2.3 points to -22.9) and the Philippines (up 2.9 points to -38).

JETRO also reported improved future prospects for Japanese companies over the next two months to three months, with the forward index for Indonesia up 6.3 points to -12.8 points, while Malaysia and Singapore posted improvements of 19.7 and 14.6 points respectively, to -45.1 in both countries.

JETRO has conducted the survey with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in the first week of each month since June, 2001, with the aim of providing current information on business conditions in the ASEAN region.