EBC Newsletter – September 2, 2020

EBC Newsletter – September 2, 2020

 

From the EBC

 

Dear Friends of the EBC,

The EBC welcomes the lifting of the (re-)entry ban for foreign nationals living and working in Japan. Our calls, along with other foreign Chambers of Commerce and Embassies, have finally been heard.

However, the conditions to be fulfilled remain complicated and sometimes extremely difficult. The EBC Chief Policy Director, Bjorn Kongstad, compiled several official documents to write a summary of the various procedures needed by foreign residents to re-enter Japan.

We will continue our high-level meetings to discuss the simplification of the (re-)entry procedures and to ease as soon as possible the entry of new expatriates and businesspeople, as they also have an important role to play in the EU-Japan economic relationship and in the Japanese economy, keeping in mind the importance of health measures to prevent further spread.

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

Valerie Moschetti
EBC Chief Operating Officer

Japan removes the (re)-entry ban for foreigners. What is needed to leave and come back?

 

The EBC Chief Policy Director, Bjorn Kongstad, compiled several official documents to write the summary of the various procedures needed by foreign residents to re-enter Japan.

The STAR (Secure Transmission And Recording) joint research project

 

Keio University has been developing a blockchain project in collaboration with Japanese private companies.

This project may be of potential interest to European companies looking to hire human resources in Japan or to do empirical research on how to exchange data securely using blockchain technology.

Please see the below links to the press release published by Keio University. The project was also presented at the NHK news on 16 August. There are currently a dozen Japanese firms and universities showing interest and/or committing themselves to join this blockchain platform.

https://www.keio.ac.jp/en/press-releases/2020/Aug/26/49-74255/
https://www.keio.ac.jp/en/press-releases/files/2020/8/26/200826.pdf
More information here: Keio University FinTEK  http://fintek.keio.ac.jp/

If you are interested in discussing with Professor Sahoko Kaji and her team from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University, please send an email to the EBC: [email protected]

What’s in the Media

  • Japan corporate profits almost cut in half due to COVID-19 fallout (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Q&A: Japan’s coronavirus-related travel restrictions (Japan Today)
  • Japan considers tax reform to lure foreign financial firms, annual policy says (The Japan Times)
  • Japan to extend special measure for job adjustment subsidies (The Japan Times)
  • Japan to lift re-entry restrictions on foreign residents from Sept 1 (Japan Today)

Upcoming EBC Committee Meetings

Date Committee Time / Location
September 2 (Wednesday) Energy EBC
13:30~
September 4 (Friday) Legal Services Off-site
12:00~
September 10 (Thursday) Logistics & Freight EBC
12:00~
September 15 (Tuesday) Retail & Wholesale EBC
15:30~
September 17 (Thursday) Telecom Carriers
Telecom Equipment
EBC
10:00~
September 24 (Thursday) Human Resources EBC
09:00~
September 24 (Thursday) Medical Equipment & Diagnostics Committee Off-site
14:00~
October 20 (Tuesday) Sustainability and Social Responsibility Off-site
08:30~
October 22 (Thursday) Medical Equipment & Diagnostics Committee Off-site
14:00~
October 29 (Thursday) Insurance Off-site
07:30~

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

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/