| Dear Friends of the EBC,
On 12 June, the EBC had the honor of meeting in Paris Arancha Gonzalez Laya, the former Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation (2020-2021), and the current Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po. The session began with a presentation on the EBC’s activities and objectives, followed by a discussion on the evolving economic relations between Europe and Japan. |
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| On 13 June, I had the pleasure of meeting with Muge Adalet McGowan, Senior Economist, Head of Japan/Ireland desk, Economics Department at the OECD headquarters in Paris. Our discussions focused on the Japanese economy and the performance of European businesses in Japan. The OECD’s latest Economic Survey of Japan, published in January 2024, was a topic of our conversation. Our members benefited from an in-depth presentation of this survey in Tokyo earlier this year, and we eagerly anticipate the next release scheduled for 2026. |
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| Later on 13 June, I engaged in an insightful meeting at the OECD with Froukje Boele, Head of Public Policy, OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct and Kate Wilson, Asia Project Manager at Centre for Responsible Business Conduct. They visited Tokyo in April and presented the project “Responsible Business Conduct for Green, Digital, and Resilient Supply Chains in Asia” to the EBC Sustainability Committee. This EU-funded initiative, set to run until 2027, involves collaboration with government and non-government stakeholders in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and Korea, along with businesses across Southeast Asia. The project aims to foster responsible business practices that support sustainable and resilient supply chains in the region. |
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| The EBC HR Committee will meet on 27 June at 17:00 at the EBC office. It is made up of HR representatives from various EBC companies. If you are a member of one of the European National Chambers in Japan that are part of EBC and are interested in learning more about HR challenges and regulations, this committee is for you! To participate and enrich the discussions, please express your interest by sending us an email. The meeting will include a presentation on the latest changes in labour laws that affect the various HR activities. Afterwards the committee will go out for less formal discussions. Don’t miss this opportunity!
Stay tuned for more updates on our ongoing initiatives and upcoming events.
Valerie Moschetti
Chief Operating Officer
European Business Council in Japan
For more information, visit our website or contact us at email. |
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- In a bid to strengthen supply chains and economic security in the wake of the global shortage of semiconductors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is encouraging businesses and other organizations to expand domestic production of semiconductors. Plans to build factories for semiconductor-related industries have been mapped out across the country. (The Japan News)
- Japan’s parliament on Friday enacted revised laws to replace a controversy-plagued foreign trainee program with a new system that encourages workers from abroad to stay longer, as authorities look to address the serious labor shortage created by the country’s demographic crisis. The changes also include a contentious new measure that allows the government to revoke permanent residence status for foreigners who deliberately fail to pay taxes or social insurance premiums, prompting concerns from those who have lived in Japan for many years. (Kyodo News+)
- Japan ranked 118th among 146 countries in the gender gap rankings in 2024, improving slightly from its record low of 125th last year but remaining the lowest among the Group of Seven industrialized nations, the World Economic Forum said Wednesday. The Swiss think tank’s report showed women’s participation in Japan remains low in the political and economic arenas, in addition to their income levels remaining comparatively low. (Japan Today)
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Upcoming EBC Committee Meetings |
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| Date |
Committee |
Time / Location |
| June 20 (Thu) |
Insurance |
Hybrid
0730~ |
| June 20 (Thu) |
Telecommunications Equipment |
Hybrid
1400~ |
| June 21 (Fri) |
Medical Equipment & Diagnostics |
Off-site
1430~ |
| June 21 (Fri) |
Railways |
Hybrid
1600~ |
| June 27 (Thu) |
Human Resources |
Hybrid
1700~ |
| July 16 (Tue) |
Food & Agriculture |
Hybrid
1700~ |
| July 18 (Thu) |
Medical Equipment & Diagnostics |
Off-site
1430~ |
| July 26 (Fri) |
Railways |
Hybrid
1600~ |
If you are interested in joining a committee meeting, please contact the EBC to confirm the time and meeting place. |
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