EBC Newsletter – January 13, 2021

The EBC team wishes you a very happy year 2021 !

On 21 January, the EBC, in collaboration with the European Business Organisation Worldwide Network (EBOWWN) is organising a webinar on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In this webinar with EBO Speakers from various Asian countries, you will learn how our experts on the ground evaluate the key achievements and limitations of the RCEP. They will also discuss the impact the trade deal will likely have on supply chains and trade volumes across Asia. If you want to register, please see further details below.

The EBC’s role is to advocate on behalf of the European private sector in Japan. On 25 November, we issued a Statement on the proposals to amend inheritance tax regulations. If you are interested in this topic, please read the following EuroBiz article.

The Tax Committee has from 2021 a new Chair, Benjamin Sainsbury of PwC. He will be taking over after Hans-Peter Musahl who has been with the EBC for a long time and has very successfully chaired the Tax Committee and been instrumental in shaping the policy and position of the EBC in regard to the tax field. You will find a short message from Ben below.

Moreover, we remain active in monitoring the borders situation and you can contact the EBC if your company encounters any problem with the recent closure due to COVID-19 and its new strains.

Finally, we invite you to attend a Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) webinar on Sustainable Finance for the Next Generation. Tokyo Sustainable Finance Week is organized by the TMG from 8 February 2021, with the aim to promote financial services that contribute to the establishment of a sustainable city and to develop Tokyo’s presence in the field of sustainable finance.

We hope you stay positive and healthy during this difficult time,

Valerie Moschetti
EBC Chief Operating Officer

Programme

• 17:00  Introduction, Mr Jason Collins – President EBOWWN
• 17:05  Introduction RCEP presentation – Dr Deborah Elms, Asian Trade Centre
• 17:15    Moderated Panel discussion
• 18:25    Q&A session (questions from the audience)
• 18:55    Closing remarks

The RCEP is a free trade agreement (FTA) that was signed on 15 November 2020 between the 10 ASEAN Members, its dialogue partners Australia, China, Japan, Korea and New Zealand, and is an important milestone in the regional economic integration.

Companies located in the RCEP-region can leverage on this FTA and benefit from the preferential market access provided.

Learn how our experts on the ground evaluate the key achievements and limitations of the RCEP. They will also discuss the impact the trade deal will likely have on supply chains and trade volumes across Asia.

Registration
Free for 35 members of the EBC in Japan on a first-come, first-served basis

To register send your name and company to [email protected].

This EuroBiz article tells you more on the topic.

On behalf of PwC Tax Japan I have offered to chair the EBC Tax Committee in support of the members. I would like to thank Hans-Peter for his contributions and will do my utmost to maintain the high standards of his service in the future.

We plan to start the New Year in earnest and propose an (online) meeting later this month. For this, we are inviting you to tell us if there are any tax matters that you would like to wish to raise for discussion? We look forward to hearing from you, and perhaps also joining us.

Best regards,
Ben Sainsbury

‘Sustainable Finance Forum’, a high level forum for public and private sectors, including financial institutions and financial industry groups, will be held during the Tokyo Sustainable Finance Week to discuss various possibilities offered by sustainable finance. At the forum, experts will discuss the latest global trends in sustainable finance, the challenges in the sustainable finance market in Japan and a wide range of possibilities of sustainable finance that leverages the strengths unique to Tokyo. The program is divided into two sessions. In the first half, keynote speakers will introduce current trends in sustainable finance. In the latter half, a panel discussion is organized. The panel experts will discuss the diversification and possibilities of sustainable finance, including the perspectives of the post-COVID-19 era.

To participate in this event, visit the website:
https://www.sustainablefina.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/forum/english

The latest change is a simplification of our Sponsorships scheme.

Until now, when you chose to support the EBC, you were able to sponsor an event or our annual White Paper.

From 2021, you will have the opportunity to select among 6 categories of sponsorships. Depending on the category, the Sponsor will get:

• Free Membership to the EBC and participation to all EBC sectoral committees;
• His logo on the EBC website (homepage and/or dedicated sponsors’ web page);
• His logo/name in the EBC White Paper;
• His company banner/information material/keynote speaker at the EBC Briefings;
• His company name listed in EuroBiz Japan (EBC monthly magazine).

If you are interested in supporting the EBC, please have a look at the new Sponsorships Scheme and contact us at: [email protected] for further details!