JETRO Topics
26th Spain-Japan Economic Joint Business Conference with Investment Seminar in Tokyo held during visit by His Majesty the King Felipe VI
April 2017
On April 6, JETRO jointly held the 26th Spain-Japan Economic Joint Business Conference in Tokyo with the Japan-Spain Business Cooperation Committee and the Spain-Japan Business Cooperation Committee on the occasion of a visit to Japan by His Majesty the King Felipe VI of the Kingdom of Spain. Speeches were delivered by the King as well as Nobuteru Ishihara, Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy of Japan, and Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis Quecedo. Under the moderation of JETRO Executive Vice President Koji Yonetani, speakers engaged in a lively discussion regarding new activities between Spain and Japan. The conference, which was joined by approximately 480 people, drew to a successful close after remarks by JETRO President Yasushi Akahoshi.
Venue of conference
Upcoming 150th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and Japan
The conference started with opening remarks by Chairman Mikio Sasaki of the Japan-Spain Business Cooperation Committee and Chairman José Manuel Entrecanales of the Spain-Japan Business Cooperation Committee. Following that, greetings were made by Spanish Foreign Minister Quecedo, Chairman José Luis Bonet of the Spain Chamber of Commerce and King Felipe VI. They respectively expressed their hope that Japanese companies will continue investment into Spain. In addition to this, from each perspective they also touched on the upcoming 150th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and Japan in 2018, the importance of the soonest possible conclusion of an economic partnership agreement between the EU and Japan and the possibility of collaboration between Spanish and Japanese companies in third countries. Plenary sessions were held following the opening ceremony. In the first session moderated by Chief Executive Officer Francisco Garson of ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, a discussion was held among speakers regarding “successful global cooperation in infrastructure.” The second session’s topic was new activities between the two countries, such as collaboration between the major Spanish car parts maker Gestamp and Japanese trade company Mitsui, and launch of new direct flights to Japan by Iberia Airlines. The conference ended with closing remarks by Secretary María Luis Poncela as well as JETRO President Akahoshi, with the latter speaking on the importance of efforts by both countries in next-generation fields, such as smart cities, and in cultivating human resources.
Greeting by His Majesty the King Felipe VI
Greeting by Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Nobuteru Ishihara
Session moderated by JETRO Executive Vice President Yonetani
Closing remarks by JETRO President Akahoshi
Breakfast meeting between the King and Japanese business leaders
King Felipe VI and Japanese business leaders from 17 companies and organizations took part in a breakfast meeting before the conference. Short presentations were made by Japanese companies separately in terms of current business trends in Spain.
While mentioning the excellent relationship between ICEX and JETRO, JETRO Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige proudly introduced that Japanese sake had been adopted by Iberia Airlines to serve in its business class of direct flights to Narita Airport which had gone into service in October 2016, a move which also promotes Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry, fishery and food products.
Breakfast meeting
His Majesty the King Felipe VI
and JETRO Chairman and CEO Ishige
Outline of 26th Japan-Spain Joint Business Conference
| Date and time |
April 6 (Thu.), 2017 (Conference:10:00-13:00; Reception:13:00-13:50) |
|---|---|
| Venue |
Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Main Bldg. 2F (Conference: Peacock Room East; Reception: Peacock Room West) |
| Organizers |
Japan-Spain Business Cooperation Committee Spain-Japan Business Cooperation Committee |
| Co-Organizer | Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) |
| Supporters |
Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) Japan Institute for Overseas Investment (JOI) Japan Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (JALAC) Spain Chamber of Commerce Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) ICEX Spain Trade and Investment |
| Program |
10:00 – 10:40 Opening ceremony Opening remarks
11:10 – 11:45 Plenary Session 1: Successful Global Cooperation in Infrastructure Chaired by: Mr. Francisco Garzon, CEO, ICEXSpeakers: Mitsubishi Corporation - Mr. Tetsuji Nakagawa, SVP, Division COO, Infrastructure Business Division CAF - Mr. Andrés Arizkorreta, Chairman NEC Corporation - Mr. Shinya Kukita, Chief Engineer, Global Business Unit 11:45 –12:20 Plenary Session 2: New Initiatives for a Future of Closer Links Chaired by: Mr. Koji Yonetani, Executive Vice President, JETROSpeakers: Mitsui & Co. – Mr. Noboru Katsu, Managing Officer, Chief Operating Officer Iron & Steel Products Business Unit Gestamp - Mr. Antonio Lopez Arce, Financial Director Asia Division Iberia – Mr. Luis Gallego, Chairman 12:20 – 12:45 Plenary Session 3: Investment in Human Capital and Executive Education Chaired by: Mr. Alfredo Bonet, International Director, Spain Chamber of CommerceSpeakers: IE Business School: Mr. Mar Hurtado De Mendoza, Head of International Development IESE Business School: Mr. Junichi Kagaya, Corporate Relations Director for Japan and Northeast Asia Hitotsubashi University – Mr. Jin Abe, Associate Professor, Director, Center for Global Education/ Berge y Cía – Mr. Joaquin Eulate, Corporate Director Institutional Relations and Communications 12:45 – 13:00 Closing session Closing remarks
13:00 – 13:50 Reception |
| Attendees | Approx. 480 people |
