October Message from Managing Director Takashi Tsuchiya

Oct 28, 2011

In October I was involved in four Japan-related events, namely, 49th Japan-Australia Joint Business Conference (9th-11th, in Kyoto), Matsuri in Sydney (15th, in Darling Harbour), Fundraising Dinner for the Orphans of the Japanese Earthquake (20th, in NWS Parliament, Sydney), and “Bridge to Japan” forum for business (21st, in Brisbane).
I am glad to have witnessed through these events just how much Australia shows continued interest in Japan and Japanese business, despite Japan now holding the Number 2 spot of trade partner after to China.
Many of our readers may have participated in these events, but let me briefly explain each of them.
The Japan-Australian Joint Business Conference is an annual meeting between Australia-Japan Business Cooperation Committee (Chaired by Sir Rod Eddington, Chairman, Australia & New Zealand, JP Morgan) and Japan-Australia Business Cooperation Committee (Chaired by Mr. Akio Mimura, Chairman, Nippon Steel). The Conference attracted 128 participants in the Japanese delegation and 82 participants in the Australian delegation.
There were 7 plenary sessions covering many topics for expansion of Japan-Australia business ties, including the importance of Japan-Australia relations in East Asia, EPA, and business opportunities in energy and resources, new technology, infrastructure etc. At the end of the Conference the joint statement was issued requesting the Australia-Japan EPA/FTA to be signed promptly by both governments. The 50th Joint Business Conference will be held in Sydney next October.
The Japanese Matsuri (lit. festival in Japanese) was held with the theme “Revive Japan and Thank Australia”. Australia sent rescue team and made huge monetary contributions to help suffers of the Eastern Japan Great Earthquake immediately following the disaster last March.
The Matsuri included festive folk dancing and music, karate & kendo demonstrations and delicious Japanese festival food at food stalls. Favourable weather on the day of the Matsuri attracted a huge crowd to Darling Harbour. JETRO Sydney participated through providing a panel for exhibiting Shinkansen (Japanese High Speed Rail). Our staff and I enjoyed Japanese festival food there.
A Fundraising Dinner for the Orphans of the Japanese Earthquake was held thanks to the initiative of the Hon Marie Ficarra MLC and the Hon Shaoquett Moselmane MLC. More than 160 Australians and Japanese participated in the event. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to these initiators and participants in the event.
“Bridge to Japan” forum was arranged by Trade and Investment Queensland and sponsored by the Toll Group. This event was attended by more than 100 business people. I was one of the presenters and explained that Japan is back in business and there are business opportunities in the renewable energy sector and hospitality and dining sector, just to name a few. I would like to thank Queensland Trade and Investment for thinking of Japan always.
Seven months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Japan is back in business as many economic data indicate. The catalyst for the turn-around was production and consumer spending. According to Nikkei’s recent survey in September on 139 top Japanese business executives, “respondents were upbeat about the domestic economy. When asked about domestic conditions compared with 6 months ago – immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake – nearly 60% said they had ‘improved’ or were ‘showing signs of improvement’.”
So Japan can offer many chances for business, even though the Japanese economy is somewhat overshadowed by developments in Europe and the US.

Takashi Tsuchiya
Managing Director,
JETRO Sydney