Comments by the speakers: Japan Business Forum in Düsseldorf

"Business environments that support cutting-edge technology, a large labor pool of highly qualified engineers—these are among the advantages of doing business in Japan. Additionally, the world's second-largest economy also boasts a sophisticated consumer market with strong buying power. And considering Japan's geographic location in East Asia and its close business ties with the region, you'll find the country a highly attractive base for business in Asia."
Masashi Nakano , Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry

"In matters of innovation, Japan is an excellent partner for Germany. Joint R&D is indispensable to the two nations' future success. Working together, we can promote far-reaching bilateral policies for technological innovation to strengthen our competitive economic edge and take it to the next level."
Peter Hintze , Parliamentary Secretary of State, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Germany

"Japan and Germany both provide fertile ground for development of extremely advanced technologies. At the same time, some technologies developed in Japan are found nowhere else. Having a presence in Japan and partnering firms possessed of such technologies can benefit companies engaged in R&D of valued-added, next-generation products, and also lead to the establishment of new global standards."
Tadashi Izawa , President, JETRO

"What drives high-tech R&D is opportunities for researchers, scholars, and developers from many countries to meet and do good work together."
Hajime Sasaki , Chairman of the Board, NEC Corporation

"The cooperative network between Japan and Germany encompasses many industrial and academic research facilities and boasts an exceptional pool of high-level knowledge. Such premises make the possibility for Japan-Germany collaboration very promising."
Dr. Dieter Ameling , Chairman VDEh and President of the German Steel Federation

"German companies enjoy an image as master craftsmen, creating very polished products. Germany is also home to the meister system, in which production techniques are carefully passed down, and has a history of smaller enterprises steadily building up successful techniques."
Shigefumi Matsuzawa , Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture

"Japanese business people tend to view German companies as logical and strategic. In this respect, it may be easier for Japanese companies to partner with them."
Akihiko Noro , Governor of Mie Prefecture, Board Member of Greater Nagoya Initiative Center

"At ISD, we view Japan as a driving force in technology. Such an environment makes the country a very promising base for our worldwide expansion plans."
Günter Flassig , Chairman, ISD Software und Systeme GmbH

"Japan is a key market in many business fields. Given this, we must maintain a solid presence in the country in all spheres of our business—from industrial and agricultural chemicals to plastics—as we aim for the top in world markets."
Dr. Guiscard Glück , Senior Manager, Strategic Planning, BASF Coatings AG

"Japanese customers tend to seek out exceptional quality. For this reason, marketing 'localized' products in Japan requires significant investment. But in most cases, this investment proves worthwhile. Compared to business in other markets, much constructive feedback can be garnered here—and greater returns can be expected."
Manfred Hoffmann , Executive Director, German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan