LATEST UK–JAPAN REPORTS
Help Urged for Exporters of Scotch Beef Richard Lochhead, the Scottish government’s cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment, has urged Owen Paterson, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, to open up export markets to Japan for Scotch beef, the Farmers Weekly reported on 22 April.
Most Developed Nations Index The UK has been ranked as the second-most advanced country in the world, while Japan was placed in eighth position, according to the Social Progress Index issued on 17 April. The listing assesses 50 leading countries by combining figures on everything from health to broadband access and freedom of speech. Compiled by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology team of economists, who used over 50 sets of data to assemble the list, the index is an alternative to traditional measures that are based on purely economic standards. The UK outstrips the US, Germany, France and Japan for overall progress in living standards, infrastructure and individual opportunity and, although the UK’s health spending is 11th, it takes the top spot for overall health and wellness. That has proved central to the UK’s success in the rankings. According to the authors, the UK’s constant efforts to “straddle” Europe and the US have made it one if the best places overall to live in the world.
At April’s Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers’ conference, Lochhead said he was shocked to find that gaining access to the Japanese market was not a UK government priority. He believes offers from the Scottish government to provide resources to secure accreditation for
Scotch beef in Japan and other countries have been ignored. Meanwhile, export sales of Scotch beef to European markets thus far this year are up 16%, and Quality Meat Scotland said it is actively targeting new markets in the Nordic countries and Germany.
Sales of Luxury Car Growing Nissan Motor Company’s Infiniti luxury car brand has increased its UK sales by 45% year-on-year, Motortrades Insight reported on 17 April. Since the first Infiniti Centre was set up in Reading in 2009, a further six centres have opened across the country, with another three planned. Sales for the year ending March 2013 show a 45% year-on-year increase, and a hike of 23% just for the first three months of 2013.
The good performance has been fuelled mainly by sales of the FX and recently introduced Ifiniti M35h saloon. According to a recent independent brand tracking survey by GFK Custom Research Japan KK, there has been a significant increase in awareness of the Infiniti brand. In 2011, only 51% of respondents had heard of the premium brand, while the ratio has now reached 64%. The new Infiniti Q50 premium sports car is planned for release in the autumn.
Norwich Software Firm Expands Global Portfolio with Energy Deal Falcon Global has obtained a licensing deal with a Yokohama-based oil and gas firm to increase its global portfolio, the Eastern Daily Press reported on 3 April. The UK firm will now be able to use its Zenator Systems project management
software in any projects conducted with Chiyoda Corporation. The agreement has enabled the firm to forecast a rise in turnover from £1.9mn to between £5mn and £6mn this year, and are planning to add new employees to its staff.
Norton Motorcycles (UK) Ltd’s motorbikes are to be sold again in Japan, after having pulled out of the market 30 years ago, the Leicester Mercury reported on 18 April. It will be the first time the British bikes will be exported outside Europe since the firm returned to UK ownership in 2008. The bikes are to be sold across Japan through 14 dealerships, where numerous orders have already been placed by Japanese customers. Within 18 months, the firm—which has 50 employees—plans to quadruple production to 40 bikes per week, and increase its workforce to between 150 and 200 staffers. Norton also will soon sell their quality, handmade bikes in the US and Canada, where it has already attracted numerous orders.
8 | BCCJ ACUMEN | MAY 2013
OFFICIAL IMPORTER / PCI CO., LTD.
Return of Classic Bikes
Norton Motorcycles (UK) Ltd’s Commando 961 Sport will be sold across 14 dealerships here.