Tokyo, Japan, Nov 29, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - JETRO's monthly survey of Japanese companies and affiliates operating in 12 countries/regions of East Asia revealed that sentiment in the ASEAN region continued on an upward trend (that started last month) in November while declining slightly in China and North Asia.

Contrary to its previous reluctance to pursue regional multilateralism during the Cold War, Japan turned into a central player for establishing the first two mega regional institutions in Asia, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and maintained its activism in subsequent institution-building projects, such as ASEAN plus Three (APT) and the East Asian Community (EAC) proposal.

The new company, located near Bangkok, will provide support to customers in ASEAN countries in particular, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, and is due to start operating at the beginning of 2007.