About Us - Japan Business Consultants

The Australia-Japan Link

Established twenty years ago in 1989, the Australia-Japan Link is a division of the company Martin Harley Pty Ltd. It was founded by Japan market specialist David H Jacobs. The Australia-Japan Link, which has both Western and Japanese corporate and Government clients, is an access point which brings together a specialist group of professionals and researchers to apply to Japanese market related business, economic and strategy issues. The advice is especially hands on and typical assignments for clients involve assistance in their business negotiations in the Japanese market and advice on how to structure their interaction so as to achieve their desired outcome. All work undertaken by the Australia-Japan Link is overseen by David H Jacobs. David has a long history of involvement with Japan, having first visited the country in 1969. A frequent traveller subsequently, David has developed prowess in spoken and written Japanese. During its twenty year history, the Australia-Japan Link has conducted an extensive range of business assignments. Typically, these involve realignment of existing business relationships, which may have faltered due to misunderstanding of objectives. Participation in a diverse range of client assignments has allowed us to witness "first hand" and to test the appropriateness of particular business strategies. This experience has resulted in our ability to immediately advise clients on the likely outcomes if they pursue various strategies. This intimate market knowledge is then applied to the relevant issues faced by our clients. Most client assignments have involved:

• assessment of the Japanese customer's distribution channel strengths
• assessment of the Japanese customer's market segment penetration
• seeking suitable Japanese partners
• approaching potential candidates
• preparing and implementing appropriate negotiating strategies
• achieving contractual outcomes

Prior to setting up The Australia-Japan Link, David was under annual contract for 10 years to the Government of Japan, in the capacity of Director of the Australia-Japan Economic Institute (AJEI). This was one of only six offices funded by the Government of Japan worldwide. Before becoming Director of the AJEI in 1979, he developed his analytical skills in industrial market research at the then Philip Shrapnel & Co in Sydney (now BIS Shrapnel). His work covered industrial markets such as brown goods (television etc), office equipment, steel, blast furnace slag, PVC and metal pipe, liquor, furniture, etc. Mr Jacobs is a graduate from the University of Sydney, with an Honours Degree in Economics (Economic theory) and a major in politics. Mr Jacobs was a consultant to JETRO Sydney for 10 years.He was accredited as a Network Broker under AusIndustry's programme to assist Australian exporters of products and services. Mr Jacobs was the Sydney representative for the Global Venture Forum, an initiative of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and subsequently the Osaka Promotion Desk an initiative of the Osaka Prefectural Government. He is a Board Member and Vice President of the Australia-Japan Society of NSW (Inc) and also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Director of Hunter Phillip Japan Limited, a specialist Japan cross border advisory firm. Mr Jacobs is also a Member of  the Alumni Working Group, University of Sydney, Faculty of Economics and Business.