Sands mulls joint IR bid with Osaka firms: Tanasijevich

Wednesday 20th of February 2019

Las Vegas Sands Managing Director for Global Development George Tanasijevich said the operator was in talks with several companies in the Osaka region about the possibility of making a “joint bid” for the Yumeshima IR.

He was speaking at an Osaka seminar, as well as giving an interview with the local branch of the Sankei Shinbun. In the interview, Tanasijevich noted that this kind of partnership would make the bid more powerful because the Japanese partner would bring with them a great deal of expertise about local business customs. He also indicated, however, that Sands had yet to make a final decision on this point.

Tanasijevich also made clear that Sands was not committed to an Osaka bid alone, but also has its eyes on Yokohama and Tokyo as potential IR locations.

The Osaka seminar was organized by the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The information comes from a press release that Sands issued after the event in both English and Japanese.

The main message that Tanasijevich wanted to convey was that local Japanese companies would become major beneficiaries should Sands be selected to operate an IR in the country.

“Sustainability and growth of local companies is critical to Japan’s economic revitalization strategy,” he said, “A Sands Integrated Resort will boost Japan’s international visitor growth, and also offer a bridge for Japanese companies to venture overseas through its global network of nine properties in Las Vegas, Macao, and Singapore.”

Tanasijevich stated that Sands would prioritize “buying local,” and to that end would develop education and support programs to help local companies meet the necessary standards to become suppliers to the IR.

“The ingenuity, determination and diligence of the millions of small and medium-sized local companies is part of what made the ‘Made-in-Japan’ label so highly regarded in the world today. We are committed to work with these companies to continue this foundation of Japanese commerce. We believe that through a local-first supply chain, the Integrated Resort will being significant economic benefits to the local regions,” he added.

More than 300 business people participated, according to the press release.