JETRO USA ENHANCES SUPPORT FOR U.S. COMPANIES TO DO BUSINESS WITH JAPAN VIA LAUNCH OF NEW WEBSITE

March 20, 2012

San Francisco, CA - The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) USA takes a big step towards providing better support for U.S. companies looking to do business with Japan by launching its new and more interactive website at www.jetro.org. The website, fitted with a dramatically new design and navigation, will draw attention to JETRO USA's two main focuses:

• Helping U.S. companies establish a business presence in Japan.
• Helping U.S. companies procure Japanese goods and technology from Japan.

As a bridge organization that links the U.S. and Japan, JETRO USA connects U.S. companies to Japanese technology and helps them penetrate the Japanese market while assisting small and medium-sized Japanese companies maximize their global potential. JETRO San Francisco Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Manabu Saito, emphasized that the purpose of the new website is to clearly communicate what JETRO does. "We get a lot of questions from U.S. businesses about how they can work with Japan," says Mr. Saito. "By launching the new website with integrated social media tools, an easy contact tab and useful resources, we hope to make it simpler for U.S. businesses to talk to us about their Japan business needs."

The new homepage features refined navigation to services offered by JETRO and a stylish new look that highlights JETRO USA's current activities and recent clients. Additional features include online videos from recent events, one-click access to contact a local JETRO representative and frequently updated content on Japanese trends and industries.

Improved Navigation and Accessibility

When arriving at the new website, online visitors will notice the two navigation tabs in the top menu. The "USA -> Japan" menu tab lists JETRO services for helping U.S. companies expand to Japan while the "Japan -> USA" menu tab lists services for helping U.S. companies procure Japanese goods and technology from Japan. Another new feature is the "Contact Us" tab which appears on the right side of every page and allows visitors to contact a local JETRO representative with just one click. These new navigation features will make it easier for online visitors to locate relevant content and get support.

"Every section of the website has a brief overview that describes the free services JETRO offers and the first steps to take," explains Mr. Saito. "So regardless of if you want to open an office in Japan, buy Japanese ingredients or have other Japan-business needs, you'll be able to quickly identify the right content and how JETRO can help."

Fresh Content and Integrated Social Media Sharing

When faced with an opportunity to expand business operations to Japan or import Japanese goods to diversify product portfolios, management teams of U.S. companies need accurate data, dependable guidance and timely information. To support these needs, JETRO offers regularly updated market reports, trends, announcements and media on specific industries throughout the website. To keep up with the frequent updates, online visitors have various options including Twitter, Facebook, RSS and newsletters.

In addition to getting updates from JETRO USA, online visitors will be able to share JETRO's content. Quick links to social networks are available on most pages, making it easy to share videos, images, events and articles with friends and coworkers.

About JETRO USA

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) is a non-profit government related organization that promotes trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Our six U.S. branches located in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco serve the following three main objectives: Showcase premium Japanese goods, Help U.S. companies establish a Japan office and Connect U.S. investors with cutting-edge Japanese technology ventures.

This material is distributed by JETRO San Francisco on behalf of Japan External Trade Organization, Tokyo, Japan. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

Contact: Anh Nguyen
Tel: 415-392-1333 x231
E-mail: Anh_Nguyen@jetro.go.jp