Itoki Corporation (head office: Osaka , president: Kiyotaka Kaneko) has announced the establishment of a fully owned local subsidiary in Shanghai , People's Republic of China . That important base for Itoki's Asia sales strategy went into operation on August 1st.

1. Purpose for establishing sales corporate in China

The market for office furniture is showing underlying upward trend in China, which is maintaining high real economic growth and where numerous global companies, including those from Japan, continue to carry out investment activities. And demand there for furniture and related services is expected to further expand as companies set up new offices and relocate existing ones.

In light of the current situation, Itoki made a decision to set up a local sales corporate in China. Based on accumulated experience and results in office design and office furniture sales by Itoki Systems ( Singapore ) Pte., Ltd. in Singapore , Itoki will deploy business providing total support for office-making in China . These services are geared mainly for Japanese and other foreign companies operating in the country.

Itoki will work in conjunction with the production plant of ISA (Suzhou) Store Fixture Co., Ltd., a joint venture already in operation on the outskirts of Shanghai, and conduct local manufacturing and supply of office furniture and related fixtures. That is part of an overall plan to integrate Itoki brand product development, production, and sales in China.

This location in China will also function as an overseas procurement base to implement cost reductions for Itoki group. The base will allow Itoki to survey and develop Chinese suppliers of high-quality wooden furniture and furniture parts, and export products to Japan.

2. Overview of new corporate