EBC Newsletter – July 24, 2024

On 17 July 17, some members of the EBC had the privilege of attending a seminar on Foreign Direct Investment in Japan, organised by IBA Japan and presented by Mr. Mitsuru Myochin, Director General of the Office of Foreign Direct Investment Promotion at the Cabinet Office. The Japanese government has set an ambitious goal to increase inward Foreign Direct Investment to 100 trillion yen by 2030. Mr. Myochin shared Japan’s strategic priorities and measures to boost FDI, including the April 2023 Action Plan for Attracting Human and Financial Resources from Overseas. The discussion was lively and insightful, shedding light on the exciting opportunities ahead.

On 5 September, the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct invites you to the launch event of the project “Responsible Business Conduct for Green, Digital and Resilient Supply Chains in Asia”. You will hear from the OECD, the European Union, Asia-Pacific governments, as well as business and civil society stakeholders on why practical tools and dialogue on responsible business conduct are needed now more than ever before.
Registration

Finally, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry（METI) announces that the English version of its “Case Studies relating to Collaborations and Joint Ventures between Japanese and Foreign Companies in Japan” is now available on its website.

The EBC team looks forward to hearing from you soon!

Valerie Moschetti
EBC Chief Operating Officer
For more updates and information, please visit our website.

• The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on July 19 that it plans to require companies to implement measures to protect their employees from “customer harassment.” The policy was outlined in a draft report of an expert panel convened the same day. (The Mainichi)
• The labor ministry is expected to soon require unlisted companies, in addition to those that are already listed, to disclose the ratio of women employed in managerial positions. The move was included in the draft of a report compiled July 19 by a ministry panel tasked with discussing revisions to the law on the promotion of women’s advancement in the workplace. (The Asahi Shimbun)
• The Japanese government is considering revising the policy that reduces pensions for those working past age 65. However, a significant proposal to extend the pension premium payment period from age 60 to 65 has been deferred. This proposal aimed to increase the basic pension by having individuals pay premiums for an additional five years, but political concerns and potential voter backlash led to its shelving. (News on Japan)

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