US Direct Investment Abroad: Irish Percentage Share of EU Total 1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  8.4  2.9  10.9  15.0  7.0  Chemicals  6.9  2.4  13.0  17.3  15.4  Electrical & Electronics  7.6  5.4  18.0  33.2  39.2  Manufacturing of which:  Source: US Department of Commerce.
Banks in Japan play a central role in financial intermediation, and small companies in particular rely on banks for most of their funding. In the high growth era, Japanese banks responded to strong demand for funds, using their “expert eye” to monitor closely the business performance of companies and examine their ability to meet repayment obligations.