Japan eyes construction imports from RP

Japan is urging the Philippine construction industry to supply the huge requirements of the Japanese housing market.

This invitation comes from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), which is participating in the forthcoming Philconstruct exhibition at the World Trade Center, Manila to help local housing and construction firms for that purpose.

Philconstruct, which will be held on Nov. 15-18, will enable JETRO Manila to answer inquiries on the matter, including next year’s exhibitions in Tokyo and Osaka for foreign suppliers.

Citing Japan’s growing need for imported construction materials, JETRO said some 1.23 million housing units were built only last year, one of the world’s highest record next only to that of the United States.

"The Japanese housing market has changed drastically with consumers now looking for quality as well as design. Trends toward barrier-free, ecologically-responsible, and healthy housing have increased interest in imported materials such as double glazed windows, solid wooden doors, and floorings. These materials are now being used in the renovations market as well as condominiums and apartment houses," JETRO said in a press statement.

To enable Filipino suppliers to introduce their products to the Japanese market, JETRO is inviting them to participate in the House Materials Exhibition in Japan.

The exhibition, the 13th since 1996, forms part of JETRO’s import promotion efforts and will open in April up to September 2002 at the World Import Mart, Ikebukuro Sunshine City in Tokyo and at the ITM Building, Asia-Pacific Trade Center in Osaka.

These exhibition centers were established in 1996 to serve as a permanent display facility for high-quality and well-designed housing and construction materials of foreign manufacturers, exporters, dealers, government organizations, Japanese importers and businessmen.

The World Import Mart has an exhibition area of 1,300 sqm and the Asia-Pacific Trade Center 1,400 sqm. Both can house up to 40 to 0 display booths with meeting spaces, reception and conference facilities.

The six-month exhibition will also feature seminars, consultations, direct mail campaign, business support system, and market briefings aimed at helping exhibitors penetrate the Japanese market.

Its marketing campaign involves advertisements in major housing and construction magazines, and dissemination of reference materials, newsletters, and other publications, for which JETRO’s databse of Japanse housing firms has also been tapped.

Previous exhibitions in both centers had attracted Japanese consumers, builders, design planners/architects, wholesalers, housing manufacturers, and general construction professionals.