Dutch seafood buyer invited to Sanriku and Joban areas
Seizing the opportunity of EU lifting food import restrictions

July 2023

At the end of July, JETRO invited a seafood product buyer from the Netherlands to hold business meetings in the Sanriku and Joban regions for the second time following meetings held last year.

Hokkai Suisan is based in the Netherlands and sells seafood and processed products to approximately 10,000 customers in more than 15 European countries via its online shop. In addition to the general public, the company also sells its products to supermarkets and restaurants in Europe.

CEO Marinus of Hokkai Suisan has been appointed as a “Goodwill Ambassador for the Promotion of Japanese Food” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in recognition of his contribution to the expansion of Japanese seafood exports in Europe.

The invitation took advantage of the lifting of food import restrictions imposed on Fukushima and 10 other prefectures in the EU following the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima nuclear power plant and included visits and business meetings mainly with seafood companies in Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures.

In addition to fishery companies, the CEO also visited and held business meetings with companies in the sake and seasoning industries in various parts of Japan to seek out Japanese OEM partners for the development of private label products.

CEO Marinus has a high opinion of the quality of seafood and other products of Japan not available in Europe, and it is expected that the lifting of import restrictions in the EU will lead to several contracts for a range of products.

As the demand for Japanese seafood products in the EU and other countries and regions remains high, JETRO will continue to expand exports of Japanese food products, including seafood products from Sanriku and Joban, through the implementation of buyer invitation and other programs.