GIC to deepen presence in Japan as it expands office there and looks to increase headcount
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GIC chief executive officer Lim Chow Kiat said that Japan’s companies have many products and services that the world needs.
PHOTO: GIC
SINGAPORE - GIC wants to deepen its presence in Japan together with its partners, and expects to grow the number of its staff there by nearly 50 per cent over the next three years, said its chief executive officer on Feb 2.
Mr Lim Chow Kiat was speaking at the launch of its expanded and relocated office in Tokyo’s main financial district
“Japan is at an interesting stage. Inflation expectations have lifted, and reflation and wage growth are finally occurring in a sustainable manner.
“At the same time, we have seen significant and continued improvements in corporate governance, pushing companies to focus on shareholder value and delivering higher return on equity,” he said.
Attending the launch of the expanded GIC office were over 150 C-suite and senior executives from more than 100 leading financial institutions, corporates, asset managers and funds. The group included Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Sony Group Corporation and Takenaka Corporation.
Mr Lim added that Japan’s companies have many products and services that the world needs.
For instance, GIC recently formed an investment partnership with Sony Music Group
This investment combines GIC’s long-term capital and global investment experience with Sony Music Group’s operational expertise and more than 100 years of history in the music industry.
Sony Music Group’s past acquisitions included famous artists like Bruce Springsteen, Queen and Pink Floyd.
Mr Lim said: “Overall, we see many bottom-up opportunities emerging in Japan and believe that GIC can play a role in the transformation of the country’s corporate landscape.”
Areas where GIC sees emerging opportunities in Japan include corporate reform, industry consolidation, intellectual property, physical artificial intelligence (which enables machines to do things in the real world, such as self-driving cars), digitalisation, infrastructure modernisation and tourism.
Mr Lim also spoke about leveraging GIC’s long-term capital, cross-asset class investment expertise and global network to unlock value with Japanese companies.
GIC has been investing in Japan since the 1980s. It started with equities and bonds, and later expanded to include real estate, private equity and infrastructure, among other investment assets.
In 1988, GIC first opened an office in Japan, its first in Asia outside Singapore and the third global office after New York and San Francisco.
GIC had had an office in Pacific Century Place Marunouchi from 2017, before moving to Shin-Marunouchi Building in January 2026, with more than double the space to support its growing headcount and business in the market.
“Having this on-the-ground presence enhances our ability to source deals, provides us with deep local expertise, and enables us to build strong and lasting partnerships,” Mr Lim said.
He noted that partnerships are central to GIC’s investment approach. It now has a wide network of partners with local companies and managers with a long track record in the market.
“We hope to continue to grow this network and believe that our long-term, flexible capital, collaborative approach, and global expertise will set us apart from other investors in Japan,” he said.
“We look forward to working closely together to add value to our investments, and are particularly keen to work with innovative partners who are looking to grow and transform their businesses.”
GIC’s real estate team is interested in sectors like logistics and hospitality, as well as corporate deals from companies selling non-core real estate assets.
Meanwhile, its private equity team is interested in themes including the digitalisation of business services, health products and services, technological transformation and global best-in-class manufacturing capabilities.
Its public equities team is also interested in themes around improving corporate governance, intellectual property, digital transformation and green transformation.
Mr Lim said: “Investors are navigating a world of disruptions that brings both risks and opportunities. Geopolitical shifts, evolving supply changes, rapid technological change, and continued climate change are reshaping industries.
“We remain focused on ensuring our portfolio is diversified and resilient, while positioning ourselves to capture opportunities as they emerge.”
