Today, TLIP proudly serves as home to 86 companies. The most significant reason for TLIP's popularity, the team members say unanimously, is the "all-out support" provided here.
For companies still undecided about purchasing, the team members provide them with whatever information they need. The members respond to all kinds of inquiries on logistics and procurement, not to mention general questions on legal matters, administrative procedures, taxes, and labor management, in cooperation with local staff. For example, there was once an inquiry on whether there was a local coating service provider for a certain purpose. The answer to this question was crucial in the interested company's decision to purchase the property or not. So the members turned to their business networks to investigate the local situation whether this particular service was available and how much it would cost, and provided feedback.
Kenta Kawanabe, engaged in TLIP sales activities in Tokyo, proudly states that "Sumitomo Corporation is second to none in client support" with respect to incorporation procedures after the signing of a contract, too. Kawanabe even checks the application forms before they are submitted to the Vietnamese government authorities and provide clients with advice for improvement. This way, clients can make their preparations in Japan, using Japanese. "We assist our clients in every way to ensure their success at TLIP. If they look back later and feel fully satisfied about having moved into TLIP, then it means we have succeeded."
The wide sphere of strong support provided includes infrastructure, ranging from electricity, water supply, wastewater treatment, medical service to communications, and operational assistance such as with labor management and logistics. In addition, the procurement of human resources, which becomes a great challenge after the companies arrive, and police and fire department matters are also areas in which Sumitomo provides assistance. "As the clients’ most important objective here is to manufacture products, we seek to create an environment in which they can concentrate on manufacturing. We take care of anything they want us to, however trivial their problem might seem, if doing so facilitates their work. I once even helped our client get rid of snakes," says Shinji Onishi, an expatriate in Vietnam who undertook management of TLIP and client support. At TLIP, they are currently in the process of negotiating with the Vietnamese government in order to provide an apartment as a comfortable living environment for single employees working away from their rural homes.
The team members are stimulated from communication with the clients, too. "We focus on promoting information exchanges among the clients who have moved into TLIP to help the industrial park flourish. I myself had numerous opportunities to speak with the top management of the client companies. Many are young presidents and plant heads who have been put in charge of their companies' overseas advancement. They are filled with energy and have a sense of unity. In a lot of cases, I felt that we are the ones being supported by these people," says Masuoka, who used to be an expatriate at TLIP II.
The team members not only take good care of the clients, but also cherish their relationships with local residents. Not only does TLIP generate employment via client companies, but it is notable that many of the industrial park employees, such as security guards and cleaners, are nearby residents, many of whom gave up their land for the site.
TLIP has undertaken a whole list of social contribution activities for the local community, including presenting crayons to a local kindergarten as a gift and offering scholarships for local children together with the clients of TLIP.
TLIP organizes a marathon relay (ekiden) race every year, bringing excitement to the entire industrial park and creating a sense of unity. "Employees of clients all love corporate events. Although it requires hard work to organize the marathon relay, which attracts about 60 teams, I feel glad and happy when I see them practicing seriously or enthusiastically cheering on their colleagues in the race," says Onishi, who was in charge of organizing the event. Men's and women's soccer games are also popular at TLIP. At TLIP II, there has been talk of holding an arm wrestling event. In fact, sports events are also popular at other industrial parks developed by Sumitomo; for example, basketball and volleyball games are regularly held at industrial parks in Indonesia and the Philippines.
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