JR East targets Asian markets

April 19, 2018

Tokyo- East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, aims to boost its railway operations overseas, especially in Asian markets with expected growing populations and economies, its president and chief executive officer, Yuji Fukasawa, said.

"Our main target is Asia, where demand is huge," Fukasawa said in a recent interview.

"JR East will use trial and error to find out which sectors hold business opportunities," said Fukasawa, who assumed the post on April 1.

JR East regards overseas operations as one of its business priorities.

Fukasawa said overseas operations, though unlikely to contribute to the company's profits immediately, will help employees boost their capabilities.

JR East provides advice and technical support to a high-speed railway plan in India and offers train car maintenance services in Thailand.

The company acquired the right to operate a rail service in Britain last year, launching operations to manage a railway service abroad for the first time.

Fukasawa suggested that JR East aims to contribute to the development of areas near a planned new station on its Yamanote Line in central Tokyo that will open on a limited basis in 2020, when Tokyo is set to host the Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

JR East will join community-building programs outside the station, to be built between Shinagawa and Tamachi stations, he said. Jiji Press