EADS Japan

European aerospace and defence group, EADS, has set up a subsidiary in Japan to strengthen its presence in the country and promote long-term business relationships with its aerospace industry.

EADS Japan will offer EADS products to the region through its Airbus, EADS Defence and Security, Eurocopter and EADS Astrium divisions. The group already buys products worth around $1bn (£591m) in the country, which has one of the largest aerospace markets in the world.

Vincent Larnicol, president of EADS Japan, said: 'Establishing a subsidiary in Japan underlines EADS’s strong commitment to the country. It represents a major step forward for EADS to further its ties with Japan and offer a strong European alternative when it comes to aerospace partnerships and equipment acquisition.'

The division recently bought a stake in the helicopter maintenance operations of ANA Aircraft Maintenance in Japan. EADS Astrium is also active in the Japanese space industry while Airbus is currently seeking Japanese industrial partners to expand its services.