EBC ニュースレター　2025年11月13日

The European Business Council in Japan has completed its presidential election process on 12 November and is pleased to announce the appointment of Nikolaus Boltze as its new President.

Currently serving as Country Representative for thyssenkrupp AG in Japan, Nikolaus brings extensive leadership experience and a profound strategic understanding of Europe-Japan business relations. At the EBC, he has already contributed significantly through his involvement in several committees, most notably as Chair of the Aeronautics, Space, Defence & Security Committee.

In addition to his EBC roles, he served as President of the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, an organisation dedicated to promoting industrial, trade and investment cooperation between Europe and Japan. He is also actively involved in the EU-Japan Business Round Table, where he represents his company on the European side in high-level policy discussions with Japanese and European authorities. With his blend of corporate leadership, committee stewardship and cross‑border policy engagement, Nikolaus is ideally positioned to guide the EBC’s strategic direction.

The EBC wishes to thank Laurent Depus for his dedicated leadership, which will continue until 31 December 2025, ahead of the transition to Nikolaus Boltze as President in January 2026.

The EBC attended the Nikkei Forum 2025 Global Management Dialogue in Tokyo, a truly meaningful experience. The discussions focused on how profound uncertainty and geopolitical shifts are reshaping today’s business landscape, with leaders exploring new strategies and innovative responses for navigating constant disruption.

We thank NIKKEI FORUM for the kind invitation and for facilitating such an insightful exchange on what defines leadership in turbulent times.

The EBC was honoured to participate in the French Japanese Business Summit 2025, organised by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan.

This year’s theme, “Japan Dream: Building Optimism in Unpredictable Times,” offered valuable insights into how France and Japan can foster innovation, sustainability, and economic resilience through stronger collaboration.

The EBC was delighted to engage with members of the French business community 🇫🇷🇯🇵 and to exchange views on shared priorities and opportunities for deeper cooperation between Europe and Japan.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the organisers for an excellent and inspiring event.

Japan now has a new government, a historic first female prime minister, and a new coalition few could have imagined just months ago. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has made a strong start, with a successful visit by President Trump and her diplomatic debut at the ASEAN and APEC summits. But what does “Japan is back” really mean for us, and what can we expect from this new LDP-Ishin coalition?

To help us understand these developments, our Government Relations committee is pleased to welcome Professor Kazuto Suzuki, Director of the Institute of Geoeconomics and Professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy. A leading authority on international political economy, economic security, and space policy, Professor Suzuki will share his insights on the Takaichi-Trump era and its implications for Japan and foreign business.

If you are a European company, or a Japanese company with strong connections to Europe, interested in joining the EBC, we’d be delighted to have you attend this committee meeting. Get in touch with us: Information & registration: [email protected]