EBC ニュースレター　2025年10月1日

On 25 September, the EBC supported and attended the forum organized by the UCCJ Japan-Ukraine (Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Japan), an EBC stakeholder, and the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation.

The forum covered:
• New investment rules, incentives, and regulatory trends in Ukraine
• Opportunities in industrial parks and regional development
• Innovation in digital, defense & dual-use technologies

The networking reception proved invaluable as it allowed the EBC to connect with Japanese, EU, and Ukrainian leaders, to exchange ideas and to explore potential partnerships.

Pictures courtesy of the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation

The President of the EBC Board, Laurent Depus, attended the Yomiuri International Economic Society (YIES) Lecture at the Imperial Hotel, featuring Prof. Markus Gabriel of the University of Bonn.

In his talk, “Authoritarian vs. Ethical Capitalism?”, Gabriel warned that “authoritarian capitalism is coming, but it’s not there yet,” outlining demagogic and bureaucratic forms.

He also reinterpreted Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” as a call for sympathy and ethical values, not a market law. Gabriel urged business leaders to “lead not just in markets but in values,” stressing that ethics must guide choices such as the shift to renewable energy.

His message of ethical capitalism resonated strongly with the EBC’s mission of promoting responsible, value-driven economic engagement in Japan.

Quo Vadis Automotive?- Competing for the Future of Mobility – In-person AHK/EBC Session @ McKinsey – 9 October from 16:00

How iconic Japanese and global Auto Industry Powerhouses compete to win the Race for new Technologies with increasingly value-conscious customers, from Electrification to Smartification and the Technology Stack that enables them.

The automotive industry is now competing on two fronts for increasingly value-conscious customers: electrification and software‑defined, connected mobility. Advantage increasingly hinges on mastery of the enabling stack – the e‑powertrain, semiconductors, power electronics, and beyond. Early movers are converting gains in productivity, time‑to‑market, and customer experience; others remain in pilot mode, constrained by an unwillingness to take risks, economic constraints, and operating‑model readiness.

In collaboration with the EBC, McKinsey will take stock of where Japan and global industry incumbents stand, share benchmark practices from the front line, and unpack what it takes to win in the global race towards electrification and smartification – spanning capital allocation, partnerships and M&A, and capability building across software and silicon. We will connect strategy to execution along the value chain, with a specific lens on the component’s ecosystem.

Information and registration

*Please note that members of the EBC in Japan and members of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan may be prioritized for approval to the event in case of overbooking.

Co-hosted by：Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) / EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation (EUJC)

Japan and the EU agreed on the “EU-Japan Digital Partnership” at the 2022 Summit and have since been strengthening cooperation to advance the contribution of digital technologies to society and the economy.

In this seminar, the speakers will deepen dialogue between the public and private sectors of Japan and the EU on the future direction the “Japan-EU Digital Partnership” should pursue toward a prosperous and sustainable future.

Registration and Information

Key findings from the EU-Japan Centre’s recently published policy report, will be presented. The report explored Japan’s approach to governing advanced AI systems across five interconnected dimensions: national policy, ethical direction, institutional coordination, collaboration with the EU, and global positioning.

More information & registration

We warmly encourage European companies not yet members to reach out to us and explore how joining the EBC can help them navigate the Japanese market, expand networks, and influence policy.

Valerie Moschetti
Chief Operating Officer

• The Immigration Services Agency has unveiled guidelines for enforcing a revised immigration law’s provision that allows to rescind a foreign national’s permanent residency status if they dodge taxes or social insurance contributions. The details, released on Sept. 29, clarify the scenarios where these strict measures will apply after the law takes effect in April 2027. (The Asahi Shimbun)
• The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Friday outlined a plan to add 7.7 gigawatts to Japan’s power supply by developing geothermal generation in 118 areas around the country by 2050. The plan was announced at a public-private council meeting. Unlike conventional geothermal, newer methods do not require hot groundwater for power generation. (Nikkei Asia)
• The Japanese government on Friday approved replacing its controversial foreign trainee program in 2027 with a new system aimed at improving rights protections, offering increased flexibility for job changes and implementing tougher oversight. With related laws taking effect on April 1, 2027, foreign workers will be allowed to change workplaces within the same industry under certain conditions, marking a turnaround from the existing program that prohibited job transfers in principle and has resulted in many fleeing harsh working environments. (Japan Today)

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