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NEC and IFS are targeting sales to Japanese manufacturers mainly in China and Thailand. Currently, the two companies have a successful partnership in Japan with approximately 40 Japanese IFS Applications(TM) customers with more than 60 sites implemented by NEC. The extended partnership covers the sales and implementation of IFS' financial management, manufacturing, maintenance, and supply chain solutions to Japanese manufacturers based in the region. The solutions enable customers to strengthen their internal collaboration by creating a closer link with their counterparts in Japan. "NEC has strengthened its Asian focus outside Japan to meet the growing market needs of Japanese manufacturers, as well as working closely with their U.S. and European counterparts for their global operations," said Yoshikazu Koda, General Manager of First Manufacturing Industries Solutions Division, NEC Solutions. "Our extended partnership is a firm step toward expanding our global solutions for Japanese manufacturers." "IFS has successfully worked with NEC in Japan with 150 NEC implementation consultants trained in IFS Applications," said Mark Rabjohns, President of IFS Asia Pacific. "In the past year, we have started working more closely in other Asia Pacific markets. To date, we have several joint customers, and with this agreement, our commitment to aggressively penetrate specific Asia Pacific markets will yield higher results." Recently, Japanese manufacturers have been rapidly developing their global business by deploying production in China and Southeast Asia. To strengthen their overseas operations, it is increasingly important for these manufacturers to promote the use of compatible IT solutions so that a closer link can be established with their domestic operations. IFS and NEC also plan to strengthen their collaboration in the United States and Europe, forming a worldwide structure that includes Asia-Pacific and China.