JETRO Events and Programs

"Japan Business Strategy Forum 2006" in Santa Clara CA, USA on November 7

On November 7th, JETRO, together with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the US Department of State, organized the Japan Business Strategy Forum, entitled "The Absolute Growth Protocol for Your Technology", in Silicon Valley, the cradle of the ICT industry.

Panel discussions featured representatives from American ICT firms that successfully entered the Japan market as well as Japanese firms that partnered with American companies. Panelists shared their experience and offered tips for success. Some key points made by panelists included:

  1. Japanese firms, both large and small, have invested considerable amounts of time and money in R&D activities to develop competitive technologies. A combination of advanced Japanese technologies and original ideas from the US can help strengthen the industrial competitiveness of firms from both countries.
  2. Japan's business environment is improving, and foreign firms are finding it easier to link into distribution channels, giving them wider access to Japanese consumers.
  3. In general, it takes time to establish business relationships with Japanese firms. But once agreements are made, business moves at a rapid pace towards maximizing the relationship's potential.

<Opening Remarks>
- Mr. Kozo Yamamoto , Senior Vice Minister, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan
- Mr. Michael W. Michalak , Senior US Official to APEC, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, US. Department of State

<Panel Discussion and Q&A Session>
Panel I: Seizing Opportunities in Japan's IT Market
- Mr. Robert V. Dickinson , President and CEO, California Micro Devices
- Mr. Phillip Keys , US Correspondent, Nikkei Electronics
- Mr. Allen Spiegler , Vice President, Worldwide Channels, Fox Technologies
- Ms. Vinie Zhang , Vice President, Corporate Venture Capital Group, Hitachi
Moderator:
- Mr. Michael Kanellos , Editor at Large, CNET News.com

Panel II: Multiplying Capabilities Through Alliances
- Mr. Brian Burns , Vice President, Asia Pacific Sales, ViXS
- Mr. William Chen , Vice President, Sales, Authenex
- Mr. John Ellenby , President and CEO, GeoVector Corporation
- Mr. Scott Marquardt , Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, SMO Asia Pacific, NXP Semiconductors
- Mr. Masaru Sakamoto , Vice President, Corporate Planning and Marketing, NEC
- Mr. Masafumi Yasukagawa , Senior Vice President and General Manager, Procurement and Export Division, Toshiba America, Inc
Moderator:
- Mr. Michael Kanellos, Editor at Large, CNET News.com

Panel III: Expanding Within Japan After Market Entry
- Mr. Hajime Furuta , Governor, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
- Mr. Paul Misener , Vice President, Global Public Policy, Amazon.com
- Mr. Jerome Noll , Senior Director, Japan Office and Business Development, Symantec Corporation
Moderator:
- Mr. Patrick Bray , Director, Pacific Vision Partners

<Networking Luncheon & Closing Remarks>
- Mr. Hiroshi Tsukamoto , President, JETRO
- Mr. Yuji Muranaga , Chief Executive Director, JETRO San Francisco

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