Tanaka takes a consular role

Dr Hidenari Tanaka, president and chief executive officer of contact lens manufacturer Menicon and president of the Japan Contact Lens Association, has been appointed honorary consul-general by the Republic of Singapore.

Dr Tanaka, who trained as an ophthalmologist, will represent Singapore's interests in central Japan, while his office, located at Menicon's corporate headquarters in Nagoya, Japan, will also handle consular matters.

'I am very gratified to have been selected for this post,' said Dr Tanaka. 'I look forward to doing my utmost to strengthen social, cultural and commercial ties between Japan and Singapore.'

Singapore is the site of Menicon's new research and manufacturing facility, which will produce its new daily disposable lenses, scheduled to be launched in a few years.