The Japan Times WORLD EYE REPORTS GERMANY'S RHINE-MAIN REGION
©THE JAPAN TIMES	Thursday, October 25, 2001

Serving Germany's "Silicon Valley" In the Rhine-Main region, sometimes called "Silicon Valley on the Main" in reference to the large number of high-tech companies and entrepreneurs who have located here, Christoph Gross - managing director of Arthur Andersen in Germany -- explains regional companies' need for Andersen's global business services.

"E-business assistance is available for everyone -- from global communications and infrastructure development to the growing adaptation demands of specialized "old economies"," Gross points out. "The strength of Arthur Andersen here in Rhine-Main is that we are full-service business advisors hungry for new challenges." Arthur Andersen has 10 locations in the area dealing in insurance and audits, legal practice, and business consulting among others. With its crew of top professional advisors and an emphasis on accuracy and speed, Arthur Andersen is able to create and maintain the client trust that is essential for many small- and mid-sized companies in the region. With the establishment of the Japan Business Organization (JBO) -- headed by Masaharu Otani -- the Japanese business community in the

For Christoph Gross, client trust is essential.

area has even more potential for growth. "Not all companies will be able to stand alone," he explains. "We provide the environment for development and growth with these companies." Although there has been volatile fluctuation in the number of Japanese institutions in the Rhine-Main area in the past four years, JBO in partnership with Arthur Andersen sees European expansion from a location in the region as technically advantageous.

"The automotive, semiconductor, and electric industry will be huge in the long term," concludes Gross. "We help companies incorporate themselves here, build up processing and become their auditor." He is confident that the Rhine-Main will continue to serve as a stepping-stone for German and European growth.