AFP, London :
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday warned that Britain would become “less attractive” for Japanese investment if it votes to leave the European Union in a June referendum.
Following talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron at his Downing Street office in London, Abe said many Japanese companies chose specifically to be based in Britain because they saw it as a gateway to the EU bloc.
“A vote to leave would make the UK less attractive as a destination for Japanese investment,” Abe told reporters at a press conference.
“British membership is also best for Japanese investors in the UK. About 1,000 Japanese companies operate in the UK, employing 140,000 people.
“Many of the Japanese companies set up their operations in the UK precisely because the UK is a gateway to the EU.
“Japan very clearly would prefer Britain to remain within the EU. It is better for the world that Britain remains in a strong EU,” he said.
Cameron said Japanese investment in Britain totalled œ38 billion ($55 billion, 48 billion euros) at the end of 2014 and had played a particularly important role in reviving British car manufacturing.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday warned that Britain would become “less attractive” for Japanese investment if it votes to leave the European Union in a June referendum.
Following talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron at his Downing Street office in London, Abe said many Japanese companies chose specifically to be based in Britain because they saw it as a gateway to the EU bloc.
“A vote to leave would make the UK less attractive as a destination for Japanese investment,” Abe told reporters at a press conference.
“British membership is also best for Japanese investors in the UK. About 1,000 Japanese companies operate in the UK, employing 140,000 people.
“Many of the Japanese companies set up their operations in the UK precisely because the UK is a gateway to the EU.
“Japan very clearly would prefer Britain to remain within the EU. It is better for the world that Britain remains in a strong EU,” he said.
Cameron said Japanese investment in Britain totalled œ38 billion ($55 billion, 48 billion euros) at the end of 2014 and had played a particularly important role in reviving British car manufacturing.
