Online event
Doing Business in Japan
Wednesday 27 March at 10:00AM
Join us for an overview on the UK’s trading relationship with Japan and learn how your business can benefit from and how you can navigate the Japanese market.
What you’ll learn
- an overview of the Japanese Market Overview and why you should do business in Japan
- understand the benefits of the UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement
- explore the key commercial opportunities in Japan for UK businesses
Description
Japan is currently the third largest economy in the world. As a stable country with a large, wealthy, and highly educated consumer market, premium high-quality goods and services are in demand. Japanese companies are also extremely loyal and open to building long-term business relationships.
On 23 October 2020, the UK Government signed the Comprehensive and Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Japan. This agreement is projected to boost trade by £15.7 billion over the next 15 years.
In this session, we’ll look at how you can make the most of the UK’s trade relationship with Japan. We’ll explore the UK-Japan Free Trade agreement and the benefits it offers UK businesses as well as key sectors opportunities in Japan. We’ll also be exploring about how you can market your business to reach more clients in Japan.
Speakers
Steve Crane OBE
CEO, Business Link Japan
Steve established his first company in Japan 20 years ago, and this experience helped identify the opportunity to support other international companies to enter this complex market. Business Link Japan was then incorporated as a vehicle to do just that.
In 2013 Steve established Export to Japan, an NPO (Non-Profit Organisation) online digital platform. This operation was recognised for unique innovation and has gone on to support thousands of UK businesses to sell their products and services in Japan.
Throughout his career, Steve has worked tirelessly and passionately to promote trade and commerce between the UK and Japan, generating tens of millions of pounds for the UK economy.
James Carter
Deputy Head of Trade and Head of Financial, Professional and Business Services Exports, British Embassy Tokyo
James is Deputy Head of Trade at the British Embassy Tokyo’s Department for Business and Trade, supporting UK companies to trade with and expand to the Japanese market. He also leads the Financial, Business and Professional Services Exports Team – sectors which account for over 50% of the UK’s exports to Japan. In addition to the work to promote UK firms, the team also has a key role to support the reduction of market access challenges UK firms face when trying to access the Japanese market.
James has previously held roles leading on the renewable energy and technology sectors for the Department for Business and Trade, and also spent two years advancing UK interests in sport in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Naomi Machii
Head of Technology Trade, British Embassy Tokyo
Naomi is Head of Technology Trade at the British Embassy Tokyo’s Department for Business and Trade, supporting UK tech companies to trade with and expand to the Japanese market, with particular focus on four of the UK five critical technologies (AI, Semiconductor, Quantum and Future Telecoms). On verticals, her team prioritise Fintech, Mobility and Cleantech. The team also work on a market access and market shaping which will enable more UK tech companies enter the Japanese market in future.
Naomi has previously held roles leading a tech inward investment for the Department for Business and Trade for many years, and also experience working in private sectors (Japanese major IT firm).