Saturday, February 19 2005 15:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: With Japanese corporates controlling business in the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region, many Japanese companies have evinced interest in doing business with India, Tadao Ogoshi, President Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singapore (JCCI) said.

Singapore has become a major investment destination for Japanese companies with nearly 3,000 such companies operating in Singapore, Ogoshi leading JCCI business delegation to the city told reporters in Bangalore.

A K Saxena, Managing Director of the HAL Bangalore Complex who was present urged the delegation to explore opportunities in the aviation sector.

"Bangalore, being the aviation city, Japanese aviation companies can look at having service centres of aircrafts here because of the availibility of skilled manpower", he said.

Masahiro Yamasaki, Managing Director Sumitomo Chemical Singapore Pvt Ltd and Deputy Leader of the delegation said his company was looking at Indian collaboration for their new chemical plant coming up in Saudi Arabia.

Takashi Uno, General Manager of a private tour company urged the State Goverment to provide exemption from the 30 per cent luxury tax being levied by the State on foreign tourists, to facilitate Japanese tour packages to Karnataka.

The areas the delegation is looking at includes automative sector, distribution and sourcing network and business expansion.