The Japanese government announced on April 24 that it would add nine “core business sectors” to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regime, citing concerns over national security and technology leakage.

The sectors targeted include semiconductors, storage batteries, natural gas, metal 3D printers, and machine tools and industrial robots. The amendment means that foreign investors who wish to invest in affected sectors will need to notify the Japanese government in advance. This will be the case for both direct investments or acquisitions, as of May 24. 

The ministry of finance said in a joint statement with four other ministries that is to “secure stable supply chains and address the risk of technology leakage and diversion of commercial technologies into military use”.

In 2020, Japan updated its FDI regime, decreasing the screening threshold for foreign investors looking to buy shares in a Japanese company from 10% to just 1%.

Energy-focused US private equity group invests in Scottish port

Houston-based Quantum Energy Partners has committed to investing £300m in Ardersier Port, in the Scottish Highlands, in a bid to transform it into an offshore wind hub, according to a statement released by the port authority on April 25.

Located on a 450-acre industrial site, the port is looking to redevelop into a “major energy transition facility” supporting the offshore wind energy industry and the North Sea decommissioning programme. According to the UK government’s roadmap, more port capacity is needed across the UK as it ramps up its development of the offshore wind sector.

“The site’s scale and geographical location means it is ideally positioned to become a leading European hub for offshore renewable energy,” Michael MacDougall, partner at Quantum, said in the statement.

Netflix to invest $2.5bn in South Korea

US streaming giant Netflix will invest $2.5bn in South Korea over the next four years to produce Korean content, according to an article by Reuters published on April 25, as it looks to double its investment in the country since 2016. 

The company announcement follows a meeting between South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos. Mr Yoon welcomed the investment as a “major opportunity” for Netflix and the content industry of South Korea, Reuters reported. 

“We were able to make this decision because we have great confidence that the Korean creative industry will continue to tell great stories,” Mr Sarandos said in a statement, adding that the streaming platform had already produced Korean-made hits such as Squid Game, The Glory and Physical: 100.

And finally: Only 10 carmakers will survive the global EV battle, says CEO of Xpeng, Chinese EV company, in an interview with the FT.