Latest news with #Kansai-based
Biz Bahrain
2 days ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Bahrain Economic Development Board Concludes High-Level Engagements in Japan to Promote Investment Opportunities in the Kingdom
A delegation from the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), led by H.E. Iain Lindsay OB OBE, Advisor to the Board, and Mr. Mohammed Al Alawi, Chief of Marketing and Communications, concluded a successful visit to Japan, aimed at deepening economic ties and introducing Japanese companies to Bahrain's competitive investment offering. The visit commenced in Tokyo, where the delegation held a series of strategic meetings with Japanese companies across priority sectors. These engagements highlighted Bahrain's pro-business environment, agile regulations, and its strategic location as a gateway to the $2.1 trillion GCC market. The delegation also visited Osaka to participate in activities at EXPO and host the Bahrain–Japan Investment Seminar, which brought together senior executives from over 45 leading Kansai-based companies. The seminar featured opening remarks by H.E. Ahmed Al Doseri, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Japan, and a keynote by H.E. Iain Lindsay, followed by a detailed presentation on Bahrain's economic value proposition. A key highlight of the event was a fireside chat featuring representatives from Toyota and Daiki Aluminium, two Japanese companies with an established presence in Bahrain. The speakers shared their experience operating in the Kingdom, offering practical insights into the benefits of Bahrain's business environment, including access to talent, competitive costs, and ease of doing business. The programme concluded with a visit to the Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, where the delegation hosted a series of majlis-style meetings with Japanese companies. These private sessions offered a platform for targeted discussions around regional expansion strategies, with Bahrain positioned as a strategic launchpad for accessing growth opportunities across the GCC and wider Middle East. Guests also received guided tours of the Pavilion, which highlights the Kingdom's cultural legacy and forward-looking economic vision under the national theme, 'Connecting Seas.' The visit forms part of the Bahrain EDB's broader efforts around Expo 2025 Osaka, where the Kingdom is participating to spotlight its unique economic offering and long-term vision for sustainable, innovation-led growth.
Tokyo Reported
16-05-2025
- Business
- Tokyo Reported
Subcontractors for Osaka-Kansai Expo pavilions complain of non-payment
OSAKA (TR) – Two subcontractors that worked for a main contractor on overseas pavilions at the Osaka-Kansai Expo are struggling to be paid, reports Mainichi Broadcasting System (May 13). One of the subcontractors cited by the network is a small-to-medium-sized construction company based in Kansai. It received an order from foreign-affiliated main contractor, whose headquarters are overseas, for the construction of a pavilion. 'As the work got around the midway point to the end, payments suddenly stopped,' an employee of the subcontractor says. 'The payment schedule as dictated in the contract was not followed. Construction was completed without payment being carried out .' The subcontractor claims that about 40 percent of the contract amount and additional construction costs incurred due to specification changes have not been paid. The total unpaid amount is around 80 million yen. The subcontractor has repeatedly asked for payment from the main contractor. '[The person in charge at the main contractor] has been saying that everything will be fine, so don't worry,' the aforementioned employee says. '[He says] he'll transfer the money sometime next week, or even right now. I was hoping that he would do it. But the next week passes, then the week after, then the end of the month, and nothing comes. I don't know when the company will really go under.' The subcontractor is currently preparing a civil lawsuit against the main contractor to demand payment of unpaid wages. Subcontractors that worked on the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which opened in April, are claiming they were not paid Second subcontractor They are not alone. Another Kansai-based contractor says that it is still owed over 300 million yen in additional construction costs for two other overseas pavilions. 'They paid us [a part of it] until the construction was completed,' an employee for the second subcontractor says. 'As soon as it was finished, we didn't know [what was going on], so we thought [the non-payment] was on purpose.' The second company says that they were paid the full amount of the initial contract, but only paid about half of the additional construction costs accrued due to changes in construction methods that occurred along the way. As a result, they have not been able to pay their subcontractors. 'Criticized the quality' The network visited the office of the Japanese subsidiary of the main contractor. Regarding the owed money to the first subcontractor, a representative of the main contractor said, 'When the pavilion was handed over, the government [the client] criticized the quality. There were parts that we corrected. As well, there were parts that we decided would not be completed in time and took over the construction. If we offset those costs, there is no contract fee left to pay.' Regarding the non-payment of additional construction costs to both the first and second subcontractors, the the representative stated, 'It is taking time to investigate. We are not trying to default on the costs, and we have not engaged in any illegal activities.' Yoshitaka Ito 'Private matter' On Tuesday morning, Yoshitaka Ito, minister for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, commented over the non-payment issue. 'Contractual issues are basically resolved through discussion between the parties,' Ito said, 'but we are aware that several similar cases have been raised by companies. As a government, we intend to urge participating countries to confirm the facts and take responsible action.' In response to an inquiry by the first subcontractor, a representative of the association operating the Expo said, 'If the issue was that a participating country had not paid [construction costs] to the main contractor, we could instruct the participating country [to take action], but since this is a private matter, we cannot get involved.' In response, the first subcontractor said, 'We had hoped that the country, the government, the association, or some other organization would properly listen to our concerns and respond. It is very frustrating. I still think that we shouldn't have gone ahead with the construction at the Expo.' The motto for the Expo reads, 'Design Future Society for Our Lives.' It seems, however, that sentiment does not apply to the companies that actually built the pavilions.
Perth Now
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Former Wallabies coach guides Kobe to Japan playoffs
Former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has guided the Kobe Steelers into the Japan Rugby League One playoffs for the first time since 2018. The Steelers beat the Sagamihara Dynaboars 59-33 on Saturday to lock up fifth spot on the standings. Rennie has presided over steady improvement at the Kansai-based club since he joined two years ago, with Saturday's success earning Kobe a shot at the post-season for the first time since their last title seven years ago. One of the teams standing in Kobe's way is also coached by a former Wallaby boss in Robbie Deans, whose Saitama Wild Knights remain top of the table despite a valiant effort from Black Rams Tokyo, with All Black scrumhalf TJ Perenara scoring two tries in their 27-21 loss. Spears Funabashi Bay, who play the Wild Knights in a box-office clash next weekend, remain second after coming from behind at halftime to beat Mie Heat 39-20. Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx scored twice, after former Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley scored the Spear's opening try. Kobe's likely opponents in the playoffs, Shizuoka BlueRevs, were led by another length-of-the-field try from former NRL winger Valynce Te Whare, as they came back from 0-21 down to beat Yokohama Eagles 38-28 on Sunday. The 24-year-old's sixth try of the season, and second in three weeks, was part of a period where the BlueRevs scored 31 unanswered points to seal a win that could have ended the chances of Wallaby Mathew Philips' Eagles making the playoffs. Yokohama trail Tokyo Sungoliath by six points with two games remaining after ex-All Black skipper Sam Cane scored twice in Sunday's 45-28 win over Verblitz. Steve Hansen's side remain in relegation peril ahead of next week's clash with the Heat, who are one place below, with the losers likely to join Urayasu D-Rocks in the end-of-season promotion/relegation series. Samu Kerevi's ninth try from his past eight appearances couldn't prevent D-Rocks slumping to their 13th defeat of a wretched season, after the league's bottom-placed side were outclassed 61-19 by champions Brave Lupus Tokyo on Friday night.
South China Morning Post
20-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Japan's tourism is booming but staff shortage threatens to derail 2030 goal
The booming Japanese tourism sector may face a severe challenge in the years ahead to sustain its growth due to a shortfall of more than 500,000 workers by 2030, according to a report by a local think tank. Advertisement Industry insiders noted that 2030 was the official target year for Japan to receive 60 million inbound travellers, and the critical staff shortage could tarnish the nation's reputation for omotenashi – the traditional Japanese commitment to look after the needs of guests. 'We are already seeing a shortage of people in the industry, most definitely,' said Masaru Takayama, president of Kyoto-based Spirit of Japan Travel, an inbound travel agency. According to a report by the Kansai-based Asia Pacific Institute of Research released earlier this month, the Japanese tourism sector will face a staffing gap of about 536,000 workers by 2030. Takayama told This Week in Asia: 'A lot of companies in the travel sector had to lay off staff during the pandemic, and those people found jobs in different sectors. Now that tourism is up and running again – and busier than ever – we have lost those people to new careers, and we have lost their skills and knowledge.' Advertisement He pointed out that the staff shortage was particularly acute in rural parts of Japan.
