UK/Midland Business Seminar in presence of UK’s Secretary of State for International Trade

May 2017

On May 15, JETRO jointly held the UK/Midland Business Seminar with DIT Japan and Business Birmingham on the occasion of a visit to Japan by His Excellency the Right Honorable Dr. Liam Fox, the Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
JETRO Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige began his opening remarks by extending a sincere welcome to Secretary Fox, and continued by expressing his hope as follows: “While people are anxious about the UK’s economic relations in terms of its exit from the EU, or Brexit, the UK is one of the world’s most capable negotiators and I believe that talks between them and the EU will be able to reach a mutually satisfactory conclusion.”
Following that, Secretary Fox made a passionate call to the audience, stating, “The UK is still an open country in terms of doing business even after we leave the EU. Brexit will open up an opportunity for finding new global partners.”
Director General Toshihiko Sakaguchi of JETRO London presented the audience with up-to-date information on the UK’s prospects for economic growth as well as key points and a timetable for negotiations on their exit from the EU.

In the second half, a presentation was given on the Midlands, an area spanning central England where numerous manufacturers operate, by Maria Machancoses, Director of Midlands Engine. Likewise, the main industries and the investment environment of the Midlands area and the city of Birmingham were introduced by David Fisken, Head of Business Attraction of Business Birmingham.
The final speaker, Satoshi Koyama, Department Manager of Automotive Measurement System Design Department of Horiba, Ltd., took the podium to explain his company’s experience in doing business in the Midlands. He shared his insight into the future of the region’s automotive industry, saying, “Investment into research and development of automobiles in the Midlands is flourishing, particularly in electric vehicles, application of information technology and self-driving systems. While there remains some unpredictability surrounding Brexit, manufacturers will have an incentive to invest given that the UK government has decided to conduct investment support programs.”