The six largest Japanese trading companies play an overwhelming role in world trade. The sales of C. Itoh, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi, Marubeni and Nissho Iwai in 1990 totalled US$844 BILLION, a sum in excess of 80% of the national budget of the United States Government.   C. Itoh ($152 B), Mitsui ($150.8 B), Sumitomo ($144.9 B), Mitsubishi ($142.8 B), Marubeni ($141.6) represent the five largest companies in the world in 1990 sales.   Exxon is no. 6 with $116 B in sales followed by Nissho Iwai with sales of $111.8 B in 7th place.    

To give some perspective, some of the large American companies trail these Japanese trading companies as follows - General Motors with $107 B in no. 8, Ford Motor with $97.7 as no. 10, IBM with $69 B in no. 11, Mobil with $64.5 in no. 13 and General Electric with $58.4 B in no. 14 worldwide.  Therefore of the top 15 companies in the world in sales seven are Japanese with sales of $910.5 B and six companies are American with sales of $512.6 B.

The above is illustrative of the domination Japanese trading companies have in world trade. All these Japanese trading companies are owned in Japan by Japanese. As in other countries, these companies are operated by and for the benefit of their shareholders who are, of course, in this case Japanese.

In many countries and areas of the world these same Japanese trading companies are the largest exporter of products. Just one example - the largest exporter from the Canada's Province of British Columbia is Mitsubishi Canada. 

Few know of the gigantic power in world trade of these large Japanese trading companies. When one realizes this trading power it reinforces the stereotypes against the Japanese and their world economic might. Today there is absolutely no competition to the trading power of the Japanese trading companies. For a healthy global economy, it is absolutely essential that other trading companies flourish to compete with this overwhelming Japanese trading juggernaut.

RIATRADE, INC. is being re-organized to become the world's first globally-owned and operated trading company. It will benefit its shareholders who will be in every country in which we will operate - eventually 180 countries.

The capabilities of RIATRADE are being designed to be fully as complete as the Japanese trading companies. RIATRADE is negotiating with several international financial institutions to assist it in providing the third world nations financing for their exports as do the industrial nations. RIATRADE will work with all the regional development banks to assist the countries within their network to increase their two-way trade, most especially their exports.

RIATRADE, INC. is the principal operating company of the Resources and Industries Associates (RIA) Group. The Group Chairman is the former Canadian Agriculture Minister, the Honourable Alvin Hamilton, P.C..  RIATRADE will implement in practical business ways the inclusive global philosophy stated in the RIA Charter.

Essentially, RIATRADE will provide a worldwide network of substantial businessmen and women and companies that shall be shareholders and active participants in a company that spans the globe. RIATRADE is to expand the business and business opportunities of businesspeople and companies associated with it.

The RIATRADE network will connect all its members together by the RIATRADE World Communications System that is now possible due to the worldwide availability of the Internet and email. We are tailor‑making for RIATRADE a communications and computer system that is the most comprehensive and world‑encompassing communications system yet devised.

RIATRADE will function both as a trading company and as a company holding interests in manufacturing endeavors for which RIATRADE will act as the marketing entity.  It will enter as many areas as it can manage properly and profitably.