Japanese firms upbeat on ASEAN

Japanese firms upbeat on ASEAN

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Tokyo

The business sentiment index for Japanese firms operating in
five major Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
economies showed signs of improvement in April, according to a
survey released Tuesday.

The Japan External Trade Organization's (JETRO) monthly survey
measures year-on-year changes for the upcoming months' business
outlook.

The index for Japan firms operating in Thailand rose 8.6
points to 4.7, moving into positive territory for the first time
since last July.

Japanese businesses in Thailand improved primarily in the
fields of oil, chemicals, metals and export-oriented electronic
machinery, JETRO said.

The index in Malaysia rose 22.4 points to -17.4, Singapore
rose 16.1 points to -14.2, the Philippines gained 11.6 points to
-14.2, and Indonesia increased 1.8 points to -0.8.

Japan's transportation machinery industries in Thailand and
Malaysia reached double digits, JETRO said.

Negative sentiment eased in the electronic machinery
industries in ASEAN countries, including by double-digit figures
in Thailand, while entering positive territory in the
Philippines.

The business outlook over the next two to three years is
positive in all ASEAN countries for the first time in the
survey's history, JETRO said.

Japanese manufacturers in all countries showed improvements
due to higher expectations for export recovery.

The survey received 1,095 replies, including 131 from
Indonesia, 121 from Malaysia, 211 from the Philippines, 400 from
Singapore and 232 in Thailand.

JETRO has conducted the survey in the first week of every
month since June 2001. Firms are asked to compare earnings
prospects, supply and demand, inventory, sales prices and
accounts receivable with the same period the year previous.

Replies are limited to better, same or worse than a year
earlier. The index totals the difference between positive and
negative responses.