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Deutsches Institut für Japanstudien


Economic Crisis and Transformation in Southeast Asia: Strategic Responses by Japanese and European Firms (Wirtschaftliche Krise und Wandel in Südostasien: Strategische Antworten von japanischen und europäischen Unternehmen)

17. Juni - 18. Juni 1999

Within the economic growth of Southeast Asian countries since the late 1960s, multinational corporations (MNC) have played a crucial role by providing investments from abroad and thus the needed capital and technology. However, the economic crisis in Southeast Asia that started in 1997 has put a sudden end to the period of growth that had continued nearly without interruption for more than 30 years. This situation has called in question many of the premises underlying the engagement of MNCs in these countries and will lead to a strategic reorientation of these firms.

Considering the uniqueness of this constellation, any predictions on the behavior of MNCs in this region are obstructed by the lack of empirical experience and theoretical knowledge. Therefore, the objective of this conference is to compare differences and similarities in Japanese and European firms‘ responses to the economic crisis in Southeast Asia with a focus on organizational changes in the areas of production, marketing and corporate finance. With almost two years into the crisis, the conference is timed so as to be able to analyze short- and medium-term reactions and to make predictions about future developments. A European-Japanese comparison will allow, it is hoped, to arrive at more general conclusions regarding the functioning and nature of multinational corporations operating in industrializing countries, while at the same time assessing the character and extent of any remaining national differences that may have an impact on these firms‘ behavior. From the point of view of the receiving countries, analyses such as these are important in order to better forecast the macroeconomic impact of sudden growth declines on the general investment and employment situation.

Vorträge

Tag 1         17. Juni (Donnerstag)

9:30 - 12:30
Introduction and Keynote Speeches

The role of European, Japanese and American MNCs in the technologicaldevelopment of South- east Asian Industries
The Asian economy at the crossroads: Crisis -Etransformation -Eadaptation

Toru Yanagihara, Asian Development Bank Institute

The multi-national corporation: The managerial challenges of globalizationand localization

Stephen Young, University of Strathclyde

The role of European, Japanese and American MNCs in the technologicaldevelopment of South- east Asian Industries

Poh Kam Wong, National University of Singapore

14:00 - 17.30
Session 1: Production

Options for strategic change

Hideki Yoshihara, Kobe University

Recent strategic changes by Japanese firms

Jochen Legewie


Deutsches Institut für Japanstudien

Recent strategic changes by European firms

Corrado Molteni, Milan State University and ISESAO-Bocconi University

Comments by business representatives

Fumio Yoshimi, Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Wolfgang Haas, Freudenberg & Co.

Tag 2         18. Juni (Freitag)

9:00-12:30
Session 2: Marketing

Options for strategic change

Tomoaki Sakano, Waseda University

Recent strategic changes by Japanese firms

Hendrik Meyer-Ohle


Deutsches Institut für Japanstudien

Katsuhiko Hirasawa, Nihon University

Recent strategic changes by European firms

Keri Davies, University of Stirling

Comments by business representatives

Hiroshi Hirai, Kao Corp., Garry Stubbs, AC Nielsen

14:00 - 17:30
Session 3: Corporate Finance

Options for strategic change

Andreas Grünbichler, St. Gallen University

Recent strategic changes by Japanese firms

Etsuko Katsu, Meiji University

Recent strategic changes by European firms

Steen Hemmingsen, Copenhagen Business School

Comments by business representatives

Isamu Hayase, Kajima Overseas Asia Pte. Ltd.

18:00-20:00
Final Panel

Going National, Regional or Global? ECorporate Strategies for SoutheastAsia after the Crisis

Norio Gomi, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; General Manager,InternationalAffairs Department, Erhard -Reiber-Merck Group; General Manager Region Asia & Oceania Merck Group; General Manager Region Asia & Oceania

Verwandte Forschungsprojekte

Internationalisierung der japanischen Wirtschaft

Japan in Asien