EBC Newsletter – May 20, 2020

EBC Newsletter – May 20, 2020

 

From the EBC

 

Dear Friends of the EBC,

The EBC team has kept active at helping our members amid the Covid-19 crisis.

  • We issued several Statements since April and in today’s issue, we present you the two latest, in particular the one related to the limitations on re-entering Japan. While the EU has similar restrictions, it exempts legal residents of Europe independent of nationality, meaning that Japanese nationals residing in the EU can enter. Not being able to re-enter Japan puts great strain on European individuals and companies, as their employees cannot leave Japan and come back, except in exceptional circumstances.
  • The EBC is also proud to invite you to a special regionally focused Webinar on the “Current Market Situations, Business Outlook and What Else Lies Behind the Shadow of Covid-19”, held on Wednesday May 27th, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.
  • Vicente J. Luna, an analyst of worldwide big data on location and mobility, kindly shares with us a presentation on the evolutions of 1/ restaurant delivery (uber), tourism (hotels), retail (fast fashion) and 2/ of social distancing in Japan, Germany, Spain and France from January to mid-May.

We wish you a good reading and hope you stay positive and healthy during this difficult and unprecedented time.

Valerie Moschetti
EBC Chief Operating Officer

EBC Statements

 

EBC Statement on the limitations on re-entering Japan
On May 15th, the EBC issued a Statement to protest the ban on the entry of non-Japanese nationals. While the EU has similar restrictions, it exempts legal residents of Europe independent of nationality, meaning that Japanese nationals residing in the EU can enter. Not being able to re-enter Japan puts great strain on European individuals and companies, as their employees cannot leave Japan and come back, except in exceptional circumstances. The EBC believes that there is no rational and scientific reason for treating residents differently depending on nationality.EBC Statement on changing the Japanese academic year
With the closing of schools in Japan due to COVID-19, discussions are taking place on amending the Japanese academic year from starting in April to starting in September instead. The EBC fully supports the idea of changing the current start of the Japanese academic year from April to September. Japan is rather alone in having its academic year between April and March, as most countries start their academic year in August or September with a break around the New Year. The EBC therefore views the official statements made by the Government in a positive light.

Webinar on the “Current Market Situations, Business Outlook and What Else Lies Behind the Shadow of Covid-19”

 

The European Business Council in Japan, together with the European Business Organisation World Wide Network (EBO WWN), is proud to invite you to a special regionally-focused webinar, dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 on the regional economies and business environment.

This webinar will be held on Wednesday May 27th, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm and is limited to 30 participants in Japan, on a first come first served basis.

For registration please send email to [email protected]

More information on this link.

Charting the Recovery: the WE Curve

 

Vicente Javier LUNA critically looks at worldwide big-data on location/mobility thanks to his most recent project analyzing searches in online maps as a proxy for offline demand and behavior. In previous issues, he already shared with us some results. In today’s presentation, he focuses on restaurant delivery (uber), tourism (hotels), retail (fast fashion) and also shows the evolution of social distancing in Japan, Germany, Spain and France from January to mid-May.

What’s in the Media

  • BOJ to discuss corporate rescue at extra meeting Fri. amid pandemic (The Mainichi)
  • Survey: 42% of startups could fold in 6 months because of virus (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan’s Q1 GDP shrinks annualized 3.4% (News on Japan)
  • FOCUS: Japan’s initial goal of V-shaped recovery not on horizon (Kyodo News)
  • Japanese firms cautious about new-grad hires on unclear virus impact (The Mainichi)
  • Use of telecommuting in Tokyo surged from 24% to 63% in two months, survey says (The Japan Times)
  • Japan to inject capital into virus-hit companies (News on Japan)

Upcoming EBC Committee Meetings

Date Committee Time / Location
May 28 (Thursday) Human Resources EBC
09:00~
June 1 (Monday) Materials EBC
17:30~
June 2 (Tuesday) Retail & Wholesale EBC
15:30~
June 11 (Thursday) Logistics & Freight EBC
12:00~
June 16 (Tuesday) Sustainability and Social Responsibility Off-site
08:30~
June 18 (Thursday) Telecom Carriers
Telecom Equipment
EBC
10:00~
June 25 (Thursday) Medical Equipment & Diagnostics Committee Off-site
14:00~

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

White Paper Sponsorships

The European Business Council in Japan specializes in Japanese government relations and public affairs. Among our various services, the EBC White Paper is by far the most important document that we annually produce.

The White Paper is read by not only Japanese authorities, but also by the various European embassies and the EU Delegation. Its recommendations to the Japanese government in 25 economic sectors are a useful tool for European businesses to advocate on various problems they encounter on – or to access to – the Japanese market.

We are therefore hoping that we can get the resources that are needed to print, translate and distribute this White Paper, something that has been done now for 20 years.

We would be very glad if you could support our work on improving better economic relations between the EU and Japan through one of OUR VARIOUS SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMMES.

Thank you in advance for your precious contribution.

 

European Business Council JAPAN
Sanbancho POULA Bldg. 2F, 6-7 Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075
102-0075東京都千代田区三番町6-7三番町POULAビル2F
TEL 03-3263-6222   |   FAX 03-3263-6223
www.ebc-jp.com/

• This email has been sent from a send-only address. Please do not reply to this email.
• If you would like to change your registered e-mail address, please click here.
• Please click here to unsubscribe.