MEDWAY is just great for firms wanting to do business in mainland Europe, according to the boss of a Japanese firm celebrating 10 years in Gillingham.

Eiichi Okada, president of Hochiki Corporation, a leading manufacturer of fire detection equipment, flew in from Japan for a series of special events to mark the milestone.

They included a visit to Leeds Castle, a dinner at Chilston Manor Hotel, and an unveiling of a bright red alarm lampost made by Hochiki in the 1940s and 1950s to alert Tokyo fire brigade.

Hochiki, founded in 1918, set up its first major UK operation at Grosvenor Road, Gillingham Business Park, on April 1, 1992. The factory was the last of three important Japanese inward investments into Gillingham, birthplace of legendary samurai Will Adams.

The others, still going strong, are Fuji Seal and Fuji Copian but recent problems for the Japanese economy have made it more difficult to attract firms.

Mr Okada said that as business had grown, staff numbers soared from 20 in 1992 to around 85 today. He was delighted with the skills available locally.

"In order to do European business inside the UK, Kent and Medway is the best place," Mr Okada said.

He believed the country was poised to attract more Japanese businesses as soon as the Japanese economy improved. There were signs that this was happening, he said.

Mr Okada joined Gillingham-based managing director Akira Furuyama in unveiling the lamp-post.

Paul Wookey, chief executive of Locate in Kent, the agency that promotes the county to the world, said: "Kent and Medway are very well-placed to welcome some of this investment. That's why we are maintaining our involvement and profile in the Japanese market."