Austrade media release19 Dec 2006
Austrade’s new Japan Market Report identifies the current boom in consumers using mobile phones to buy products and services in Japan is an area for Australian businesses to explore when marketing and for providers of mobile applications.
The mobile boom, called ‘m-commerce’ is one of the emerging trends in Japan that has led Austrade, the Australian Government’s export promotion agency, to launch its ‘Japan Market Report’ today to help Australian businesses succeed in exporting to Japan.
Austrade’s Tokyo-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Phil Ingram said the availability of the Japan Market Report (access by visiting: http://www.austrade.gov.au/publications/JapanMarketReport.pdf) is timely with the announcement by Prime Minister John Howard that negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement with Japan will begin in 2007.
“The FTA negotiations, Japan’s government reforms and new trends are good news for Australian businesses. The m-commerce, or mobile commerce evolvement offers Australian firms a wide range of export options,” Mr Ingram said.
“M-commerce is a term which is yet to be widely recognised or understood in Australia. It means mobile phone users can purchase items over the internet, or when incorporated with 3G infrastructure, to buy products in stores simply by passing their phones over in-store scanners.
“Already, over 60 million Japanese are able to use mobile handsets to access mobile services such as QR barcodes, e-wallets, mobile TV and radio, and CD quality music downloads’. Some analysts forecast that by 2007, over 60 per cent of mobile phone users in Japan will have access to osaifu keitai, or mobile wallet technology.
“This new technology craze in Japan offers a glimpse into the future direction of mobile phone technology in Australia. It also provides another means for Australian businesses to examine as a potential sales opportunity for their products or services if they are featured by online retailers.
“In addition, Australian ICT players should consider opportunities ranging from IP/broadband-based communications, networking, wireless communications, internet applications, satellite communications and software product development,” he said.
Mr Ingram said Japan is still Australia’s number one trading partner and is set to keep its mantle as long as Australian businesses continue to develop their products and services for the market and take up the chance to export as opportunities emerge.
“New government reforms and restructuring, along with a dynamic new Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe who’s created strategies for achieving higher growth for the Japanese economy, means the market is ripe for the taking for Australian businesses,” he said.
“As announced earlier this week, Australia and Japan have started negotiations on a wide ranging free trade agreement to further broaden Australia’s long standing trade relationship with our biggest trading partner.”
Austrade’s new ‘Japan Market Report’ contains vital information about export opportunities in Japan and an overview of current trends and developments. Austrade will update the report every six months with new information on developments in the market to keep Australian business up to date with what’s happening in Japan. The market intelligence in this report is gleaned from Austrade’s export experts based in six offices around Japan. The team is also available to provide export guidance and provide crucial business and government contacts to help smooth the way for Australian businesses to achieve export success.
Austrade’s Japan Market Report features information on export opportunities available for a vast range of sectors including those who provide organic food and beverages, products and services suitable for Japan’s ageing population and information on the export opportunities available in the many regions of Japan.
ENDS
Media contactKarla Davies, Senior Media Adviser
Tel: 02-9390-2745
Mob: 0421 288 755
For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au/mediacentre. |