Kitajima Sanso (President: Hiroko Shinohara), a long-established gas distributor in Tokushima which marks the 65th anniversary this year, is taking a positive way to develop its overseas business overviewing the next generation while getting a footing in the highly-reputed medical business locally. Last year, in fact, the company advanced into Myanmar of Southeast Asia.

President Shinohara says, “We would like to develop our business making the most of our knowhow and expertise so far fostered in the medical gas supply business.” As a matter of fact, the company’s medical-related business including gases and the hospital construction works in Tokushima and Kagawa prefectures now accounts for 70% to 80% of its total sales amount.

Having a filling plant at Awa City in Tokushima Prefecture, the company has been engaged in a consistent business from production to delivery of medical gases. Furthermore, with regard to the supply of medical gases, the company established a unique management system named Kitajima ROC (meaning Responsibility Oxygen Cycle) which has been greatly contributing to the management, quality control, safe delivery and stable supply for the medical institutions in the prefecture, as well as the home healthcare and emergency measures in disasters. It was intended by the company to develop this system and realize the high-quality and safe gas supply services in Myanmar where either the supply rule or quality control standard has not yet been adequate. The subject of stable and safe supply of medical gases is substantially all common relating directly to human life, regardless of the advanced or developing countries.

The cutting edge system of Japan is said to be much expected by the local medical institutions of Myanmar. President Shinohara spoke with confidence about Myanmar, “Even a small-sized company with a poor capital power or inferior manpower may as well be capable to provide an excellent system or knowhow. We are engaging in our business with our particular motivation that we can contribute to enhancement of quality in the local medical sites above all.”

The company’s viewpoint toward the overseas business dates back to 7 to 8 years ago when it took up the underwater dry welding technique “NEPSYS” originated in Australia. It is a welding technique for the maritime structures which consume petroleum and gas, for which well-trained divers carry out welding works underwater. The company as a Japanese agent has actually been doing the NEPSYS business in the metropolitan area and other ports and harbors across the country. With the core of medical business, the company keeps on doing its two-staged business activities in Shikoku and overseas.