EBC ニュースレター　2025年7月2日

The EBC met with representatives from the Immigration Services Agency for a friendly and constructive discussion. Key concerns raised by the EBC included the significantly longer processing times for visa and work permit applications. These delays are impacting European companies in Japan, causing complications such as postponed project launches, investments and budgeting difficulties. The Agency explained that the root cause of the delays is a sharp increase in the number of applications. The meeting also explored possible solutions to ease the situation. Ideas discussed included the use of AI to streamline processes, the possibility of pre-approving companies rather than evaluating individual applicants and grouped applications. The EBC very much appreciates the open dialogue and looks forward to continued engagement on this important topic.

The Sustainability Committee hosted Cynthia Usui of the Single Mother Forum and Michael Perry‑Clemons of YouMeWe for an inspiring dialogue on supporting underserved communities. Both speakers gave powerful presentations on the impactful work their organisations are doing to support communities in need in Japan. Cynthia shared how the Single Mother Forum empowers single mothers through practical support and long-term solutions. She also stressed the importance of scalability and professionalism within NGOs and how the EBC community can contribute to this mission.  Michael told the story of YouMeWe, an NPO helping children in institutional care transition into independent adulthood. He highlighted the importance of digital literacy, education access, and mentorship in building inclusive futures. The event sparked meaningful discussion and reaffirmed the EBC’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

The EBC was honoured to attend the reception at the Embassy of the Czech Republic on the occasion of the visit of H.E. Mr. Petr Hladík, Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic. This reception was held following the inspiring Czech-Japan Circular Economy & Sustainability Forum 2025, co-organized by the Czech Embassy and the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic. The Forum brought together over 19 Czech and Japanese companies, universities, and institutions working on sustainability, circular economy, green energy, and environmental innovation, a testament to the strong and growing ties between the two countries in tackling shared global challenges.

Great to see:
-Czech companies discovering the Japanese market
-Japanese companies expressing interest in Czech expertise
-Lively B2B exchanges and cross-cultural collaboration

Many thanks to Ambassador Martin Klučar and the organizing team for such a warm and forward-looking event!

Join the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation on Tuesday 8 July 2025, 16:30–18:00 (JST) for a free Zoom webinar, simultaneous EN/JP interpretation provided.
Geopolitical tensions and fragmented supply chains have made economic security a top priority for both Japan and the EU. The event will explore the future prospects and possibilities for cooperation between the two sides, followed by a panel discussion including representatives from Japanese and European industry to address the private sector’s responses and the challenges they face.
Register here to secure your place.

On 2 June, the Japanese government unveiled its new Program for Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment in Japan 2025, a strategic roadmap to enhance Japan’s global competitiveness and attract high-value investment. We invite you to read these two documents (Program for Promotion of FDI in Japan 2025 – PROVISIONAL TRANSLATION / Program for Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment in Japan 2025) to better understand the country’s renewed commitment to creating a more attractive, business-friendly environment.

The Future Investment and Digital Industry Division of Gunma Prefecture invites you to explore exciting opportunities for investment and innovation in one of Japan’s most forward-thinking regions.
Please have a look at the brochure.

We thank all our stakeholders and partners for the enriching discussions and continued collaboration. As we prepare for the upcoming engagements and events, the EBC remains dedicated to championing a dynamic and prosperous EU-Japan business environment.

Valerie Moschetti
Chief Operating Officer

• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to establish a new council to discuss social welfare reform after the House of Councillors election on July 20, according to senior government officials. Ishiba is considering calling on both the ruling and opposition parties to participate, to enable suprapartisan discussion about future visions for a wide range of fields, including medical care and public pensions. (The Japan News)
• The Japanese government will compile guidelines by around this fall for semiconductor plants on how to deal with cyberattacks, looking to spur the development of ways to minimize damage and maintain production of the resource critical to a wide range of industries. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will consider making compliance with the new guidelines a requirement for receiving chip plant subsidies. The government has pledged to provide 10 trillion yen ($69.3 billion) in public funding for the chip and artificial intelligence fields by fiscal 2030. (Nikkei Asia)
• Thirty major industry associations in manufacturing sectors such as steel, electronics and textiles established a cross-industry human resources management organization to secure more highly skilled foreign workers to work in Japan. About 7,000 companies will join the Japan Association for Human Resources in Industrial Product Manufacturing (JAIM), which will require each member company to provide a 1.5%-3% year-on-year pay raise for those who work under the specified skilled workers status. (The Japan News)

If you are interested in joining a committee meeting, please contact the EBC to confirm the time and meeting place.