ATPF Working-Level Meeting in Wakayama

July 2018

From July 4 to 5, 2018, JETRO held the 27th Asia Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) Working-Level Meeting in Wakayama. It was joined by 27 people from 22 countries and regions. Prior to the meeting, on July 3, the 11th ATPF Capacity Building Program was implemented in the same city. A special workshop on cultivation of human resources was held by welcoming a professional speaker from the International Trade Center (ITC), allowing participants from trade promotion organizations (TPOs) to deepen their understanding of the topic.

In order to make the upcoming 31st ATPF CEO Meeting in Laos this November fruitful, members were divided into groups for discussions under the following three themes: "e-commerce," "innovation and start-ups" and "promotion of export of agricultural, fishery, forestry and food products." Members in each group deliberated on what kind of topics should be provided for workshops to be held in the CEO meeting. The group discussions also became an opportunity for each TPO to reaffirm the importance of mutual cooperation.

Since 2011, JETRO has held the ATPF Working-Level Meeting in key areas outside of major cities in order to make the allures of the Japanese local region known to other Asian countries through the forum members. This Meeting was held in Wakayama, where JETRO’s 45th domestic office was set up in October 2017. The networking session, which was held after the meeting, was joined by Wakayama Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka, Prefectural Assembly Chairman Masaki Fujiyama, Wakayama Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association Chairman Hiroomi Katayama and numerous business people and staff members of the local government. It proved to be a wonderful opportunity for exchange between members of the TPOs and the guests.

In addition, for the first time, the networking session was preceded by the meeting between TPOs and local companies. The opportunity to talk directly to each other allowed for an even more active networking session.

The day after the meeting, participants went on an industrial tour to see local companies in Wakayama. At Shima Seiki, they observed the manufacturing site of the company's knit machine, which boasts the world's top market share, where they were able to see the machines in action and hear an explanation on the design system utilizing the latest technology. At the next destination, Nakano BC, tour members learned about the production site of plum wine using Kishu plums as well as the brewing process of Japanese sake. At the last destination, the Kuroshio Market, processed goods made from fresh marine products and fruit, like plums and mandarin oranges, of Wakayama were displayed, piquing the interest of tour members. Among the TPOs came the following praise: "It was fascinating being able to see a wide variety of Wakayama’s industries firsthand."