EBC Newsletter – June 12, 2024

Upcoming Event on 18 June: EBC Automotive Components and Aftermarket Committee Meeting

We are excited to invite automotive companies to our next committee meeting on 18 June. Yutaka Kondo from TIER IV, a leading Japanese autonomous driving startup, will be discussing their advancements in autonomous technology and exploring potential areas for collaboration in Europe.
Event Details:
Date & Time: June 18, 16:30 (limited seats available)
Location: TIER IV Headquarters, Shinagawa
Followed by: Networking dinner
Register Here: Event Registration

We are also seeking speakers, panellists, and sponsors for the upcoming Digital Summit on 17 October at Europa House (EU Delegation to Japan). If your company is interested or if you have a speaker in mind, please get in touch with us.

Engaging with EU Policies in Brussels

In Brussels for the European Business Organizations Global Network Annual Meetings, I delved into significant EU policies including the Deforestation Regulation, Critical Raw Materials Partnerships, Economic Security, the Net Zero Industry Act, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Our sessions also featured strategies to enhance market development for European companies, emphasizing the Global Gateway Strategy and insights from Antonin Calzarossa, Senior Global Investment Officer at the European Investment Bank. Tomas Baert, Trade Adviser to the Cabinet of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also contributed valuable perspectives.
Luisa Gradim Santos, Deputy Director-General, and Eleonora Catella, Deputy Director International at BusinessEurope, presented their latest report, “Reboot Europe”, calling for a revitalization of European policies, leveraging EU achievements while addressing structural weaknesses to bolster companies’ efforts.
This was an intense, busy, but fruitful week thanks to DG GROW and EBOWWN!

Luisa Santos, BusinessEurope  /  Tomas Baert, Trade Adviser to the Cabinet of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

On 5 June, the European Business Council in Japan hosted Jens Eskelund, President of the European Chamber in China, who presented the Chamber’s Business Confidence Survey 2024. Key takeaways included:

• Concerns over the domestic economic situation in China, the global economy, and China-US relations.
• Cautious optimism among European businesses with no immediate upturn anticipated.
• Overcapacity in China’s market, potentially leading to trade tensions.

Jens also engaged in a lively Q&A session, sharing his personal insights on China’s current landscape and future prospects. We extend our sincere thanks to Jens for his expertise and comprehensive analysis.

Jens Eskelund / Jens Eskelund and EBC members

On 11 June, Laurent Depus, President of the EBC Board, attended the Slovenia Statehood Day. This event provided a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the economic relations between Slovenia and Japan and to connect with some of the key players in Japan’s business landscape.

Ambassador Jurij Rifelj / Ambassador Jurij Rifelj on the left and his guests (EBC President Laurent Depus second from the right)

The Cabinet Office is conducting a survey to gather opinions from industry and business organisations regarding the procurement procedures of the Japanese Government. The feedback collected will be used to improve current regulations and to establish a more transparent, fair, and competitive tendering process.

• English Questionnaire
• Japanese Questionnaire

Please submit your response by emailing: [email protected] with “Survey – Government Procurement” in the subject line. Your responses will be submitted anonymously to the authorities. The Cabinet Office has requested that the EBC submit the answers by June 25, so please ensure your responses are sent by the close of business on June 24.

The EBC team looks forward to connecting with you soon. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or to get involved in our upcoming events.

Warm regards,

Valerie Moschetti
Chief Operating Officer
European Business Council

For more updates and information, please visit our website.

• The government said Tuesday it is considering expanding the scope of companies required to release gender wage gap data, aiming to address the pay disparity between women and men in Japan, one of the biggest among major economies. Under a policy blueprint to promote women’s economic empowerment, all companies with more than 100 employees would be expected to release such data. The scope currently covers firms with over 300 employees, numbering around 17,800 companies. (Japan Today)
• The Japanese government will strengthen efforts to ensure foreign residents are enrolled in the country’s public pension program by accessing relevant information during the migration process, sources close to the matter said Monday. All foreign residents in Japan are required to enroll in the pension service either through self-registration by submitting an application or employer registration. However, some cases still slip through the system. (Kyodo News+)
• The government has started working to establish an independent third-party organization to monitor the government’s use of information obtained through telecommunication networks while introducing an active cyber defense system at the same time. The government intends to formulate the details of the new organization through discussions with an expert panel on active cyber defense and the ruling parties. (The Japan News)

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