5 hours ago
KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — Yamada Consulting & Spire officially opened its new office in Malaysia, marking a significant milestone in its regional strategy to connect Japanese investments with local businesses.
The grand opening ceremony at Menara Mercu Aspire highlights the firm’s commitment to expanding its presence in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and market research within the Malaysian market.
The event was officiated by Datuk Seri Arthur Kurup, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), who performed the ribbon-cutting. In his speech, the minister emphasized the crucial link between natural resources and foreign direct investment (FDI) amid the current global geopolitical landscape.
“Given the current global geopolitical situation, the relationship between natural resources and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia is at a pivotal point,” said YB Dato Sri Arthur Kurup. “The Malaysian government’s push to attract FDI and secure supply chains to move up the value chain has become more urgent than ever.”
The minister also outlined key initiatives under his leadership at NRES, including implementing transparent accounting for natural resource depletion, integrating natural capital into national economic planning, and promoting nature-based climate solutions.
Go Sakano, managing director of Yamada Consulting and Spire (Asean & India), led the inauguration and highlighted that the future of Japanese investment depends on clear and consistent policy frameworks. He praised Malaysia’s efforts to transition beyond traditional resource extraction.
“The nature of the partnership is shifting from cost-based manufacturing to strategic, innovation-driven collaboration. This new vision of ‘co-creation,’ where Malaysian companies increasingly become partners and solution providers within global value chains,” said Mr. Sakano. He added that policy consistency and transparency are essential to attracting sustained Japanese FDI.
Yamada Consulting & Spire began in 1989 as a financial planning consultancy. After listing in Japan in 2000, the firm merged with Spire Research and Consulting in 2024 to form the current unified entity. Today, it leverages 35 years of expertise in M&A, market research, and growth advisory across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the MENA region.
