In Fukushima in northern Japan, the prefectural government asked 15, 000 local firms about progress.
Its goal: List promising local firms and give Japanese investors easy access to global markets.
Local firms can set up shop in its employment centres to try out employees.
Jerry Blackett, the chamber's chief executive, said local firms had suffered delays and rising costs.
Indeed, outside Britain, it is striking how much local firms dominate their national markets.
Its tax breaks for imports by hotels have cut local firms out of the supply chain.
But they have grown rapidly, by hiring young new accountants and acquiring local firms.
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As a result, roughly 150 local firms went public in China last year, down 45% from 2011.
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Rising capital costs would both take their toll on local firms, from large to small, and banks.
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Local firms have tried various methods, ranging from cash up-front and pre-paid tokens to fee-for-service or leasing.
Already, Pacific Power and Delta Energy, two local firms, and Tokyo Electric Power Company have signed on.
Mr Bonfield said the issue of possible opportunities for local firms had not been raised at the meeting.
But it carefully spreads its risk across 34 countries and has little competition other than small local firms.
These bets have also taken the form of ambitious joint ventures and technology partnerships with local firms and organizations.
Pensions may also seek to pursue other policy goals such as directing brokerage to minority, women and local firms.
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History shows that such efforts can lock local firms into dead-end technologies and leave them unable to compete globally.
Local firms wallow in cash, hungry for a chance to invest, but they need predictability about policy and decision-making.
The authorities even considered introducing a law that would mandate a 50% market share for local firms by 2010.
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The firm provides customer contact services to local firms, charities and health organisations.
In Western Europe, however, fear of domination has made local firms wary of an alliance with the American behemoth.
In fund management, foreigners have to enter into joint ventures with local firms.
Many foreign investors in China have opted for joint ventures with local firms.
Local firms, such as Bharat Forge, have been shedding unskilled labour, investing in technology and building brands and distribution overseas.
The greatest source of downward pressure on South-East Asia's currencies comes from local firms desperate to service their foreign debts.
The best have all gone in the past month, as the top three independent local firms have chosen their partners.
Other local firms providing transport, heavy lifting, port services and accommodation for visiting engineers also benefit from this kind of work.
That should generate electricity for vast new farms spread over 3m hectares of arable land granted to foreign and local firms.
In contrast to the national news, the last few days has seen a number of local firms announcing large job losses.
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Local firms dominated their regions because they often stood a better chance of gaming the planning system than their national rivals.
Local firms in the Kingstown area of the town have held a meeting about the issue with city MP John Stevenson.
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