Eight Japanese Companies to Exhibit at ITM2022

JETRO, or the Japan External Trade Organization, is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Around 1,300 Japanese companies have established in Mexico as of March 2022, according to the Ministry of Economy of Mexico. Compared with 2010, the number of  companies has tripled, and two-thirds of these belong to the automotive sector as part of the Japanese supply chain. With the abrupt rise in worldwide inflation and the instability of supply management, the improvement of productivity in each production phase is an urgent matter due to the resulting cost increases. . Thus, JETRO has recruited eight Japanese companies to exhibit at the Japan Pavilion during the “Industrial Transformation Mexico (ITM) 2022,” event, which will be held from Oct. 5 to 7 in Leon city, Guanajuato, where about one-third of all Japanese companies are located. The exhibitors at JETRO's pavilion are: 

1. Mitsubishi Electric Automation

2. Keyence México

3. NTT DATA México 

4. Hanshin Neji 

5. Canon Mexicana

6. Nippon Koei

7. INNOPHYS 

8. JUKI AMERICA

Mitsubishi Electric Automation is part of a global company serving a wide variety of industrial markets with a family of automation products, including programmable logic controllers, variable frequency drives, operator interfaces, motion control systems, computer numerical controls, industrial robots, and servo amplifiers and motors. 

Keyence is a leading supplier of sensors, measuring systems, laser markers, microscopes, and machine vision systems worldwide, whose products meet customer requirements in every manufacturing and research industry for research and quality control, using imaging and measurement applications, from basic inspections to advanced 3D surface analysis.

NTT DATA is the No. 6 company in IT services in the world. Thanks to a wide range of consulting services, cutting-edge technologies, applications, infrastructure, IT modernization and business process outsourcing, combined with a wealth of experience, it can make the impossible possible.

Hanshin Neji is a fastener distributor in Osaka, the second-largest city in Japan. Though this company does not have a base in Mexico, it is willing to establish one by means of obtaining clients at ITM 2022.

Canon Mexicana offers an extensive line of comprehensive digital imaging solutions that allow capturing, storing and distribution of information and images, both to end users and corporations.

Nippon Koei is Japan’s No.1 international engineering consultant in terms of size and turnover for consulting services, providing strong engineering solutions by planning, designing and supervising construction in the fields of energy, transportation, resources, urban and public sector development. To tackle global challenges such as natural disaster prevention and management, carbon neutrality and the circular economy, the company utilizes digital and numerical analysis, AI and satellite data based on cutting-edge technology.

INNOPHYS manufactures “muscle suits” to help people carry heavy loads. Normally, an ordinary muscle suit needs to be connected to electric power, but  INNOPHYS’ suits have no such requirement; therefore, they are ideal for work on farmland and in mountainous areas.

JUKI AMERICA, a company that manufactures automatic sewing machines, moved its base from Mexico City to Leon. The reason is that it contributes to the automation of the leather manufacturing industry, which is thriving in Guanajuato. The leather industry is a highly manual process that can be automated to increase productivity.

Mexico is the leading export destination for Japan within the countries of Latin America.Its annual value of exports to Mexico is more than double that of exports to Brazil. Thanks to the Agreement for the Strengthening of the Economic Partnership (EPA) between Japan and Mexico, which came into force in 2005, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP, 2018), the value of bilateral trade has increased, especially the value of Mexican exports to Japan. The value of bilateral trade in 2021 reached US$22.85 billion, that is, 113.3 percent more than the value 20 years ago (2001). The value of exports from Mexico to Japan in 2021 exceeded US$5.765 billion, 187.6 percent more than the value in 2001.

In terms of investment, Mexico is the first destination for Japanese capital in Latin America. The value of direct foreign investment from Japan to Mexico from 1999 to 2021 reached US$29.86 billion, which represented 4.7 percent of the total value of FDI in Mexico during the same period. Japan is the fourth-leading investor country after the US, Spain and Canada. The Bajío is the area where the largest Japanese investment is concentrated, and the state of Guanajuato is the most important destination for Japanese investment within the entire Mexican territory.