ON THE “GROUND” FROM AROUND THE WORLD Representative Office in Bangkok
In “On the ‘Ground’ from Around the World,” representatives working at JBIC’s offices around the globe talk about their work and life in their respective countries. This issue features SHIMATANI Tokuro, who is assigned to the JBIC Representative Office in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand and a key destination for the overseas operations of many Japanese companies.
After attending an international conference held in the ancient city of Luang Prabang, Laos, SHIMATANI deepened his connections with other delegates while touring temples and other historic sites.
Representative
JBIC Representative Office in Bangkok SHIMATANI Tokuro Joined JBIC in 2021 after working as a forex trader and being posted to India. After handling corporate and project financing in the Mining and Metals Finance Department, he assumed his current post in September 2023.
How would you describe Thailand?
Though the economy is a little sluggish, GDP growth rate is projected to stay positive despite the impact of U.S. tariff policies. Thailand is a magnet for Japanese companies, particularly automakers, and many have set up operations here. Japanese products, including food and cosmetics, are very popular. You can easily adjust to life here because it is a Buddhist country that values harmony, and is also friendly toward Japan.
Our office is located in the Ploenchit district of Bangkok, an area like Tokyo’s Ginza. Communication with JBIC’s head office in Japan is smooth thanks to the mere two-hour time difference.
What are your main duties?
Our office is responsible for four countries: Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Through interaction with local governments, companies, and financial institutions, we gather information on the economy, finance, and policy. By analyzing this information and reporting it to headquarters, we provide insights that support Japanese companies in expanding their business overseas and building networks.
I have a wide range of duties, including assignments that I never encountered in Japan, such as being on the editorial board of the magazine of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok. This is good experience because in the future I would like to be involved in JBIC’s organizational and administrative management.
Do you often have opportunities to travel abroad for business?
I visit Laos most often. Laos has a population of just 7.5 million but is known as the “Battery of Southeast Asia” because its hydroelectric power industry is thriving due to its abundant water resources. Global interest in renewable energy is high, so I make a fact-finding trip there every six months.
Have you had any memorable jobs?
Yes, I’d say my work with AZEC (Asia Zero Emission Community), which promotes Asia’s decarbonization. Here in Thailand, we are collaborating to realize these initiatives with the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, AOTS (The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships), JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), and NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization).
This spring, our office and these organizations jointly launched a platform to promote energy saving-related investments. Amid the global trend toward reduction of GHG emissions throughout the supply chain, the promotion of energy saving will lead to greater competitiveness for Japanese and Thai companies. We hope that providing seamless official support from Japan will make this a very meaningful initiative.
What do you do on your days off?
I enjoy international exchanges through futsal and Muay Thai lessons, and I often go sightseeing with my family.
Left: Working out at a Muay Thai gym on weekends.
Right: A beach in Krabi, a tourist destination in southern Thailand that is popular among expats.
