Switzerland Newsletter Switzerland Newsletter

IS S U E 57 Switzerland Newsletter D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 Japan External Trade Organization

会見

Inside this INTERVIEW issue Astellas expands its network through international organization Astellas ex- 1 pands its net- + tion (WTO) through the IFPMA developing countries because of work through 2 activities.”, Mr. Imanishi said. unavailability of the medicines, international organization Employed by the Japanese phar- unaffordability of the people and maceutical research-based com- the government, a lack of medi- Japan’s cur- 2 pany Astellas, Mr. Imanishi has cal professionals and also a lack rent economic situation an extensive international ex- of an efficient supply system”, perience. He spent a total of explained Mr Imanishi. Specialized 3 eleven years overseas, including The mission of IFPMA is to ad- ICT seminar at JETRO Geneva six years in the United States, vocate policies that encourage office three years in Germany and two discovery of and access to life- Japanese lit- 3 years in the United Kingdom. He saving and life-enhancing medi- erature — Ode started to work in Geneva in cines to improve the heath of to slow food June 2013. people worldwide. To fulfil this First talk be- 4 Masayuki Imanishi, Executive Liaison mission, one example is to fight tween human Officer, Astellas Pharma Inc. Promoting access to medicines diseases in developing countries, and robot in outer space in developing countries and to promote the research on Masayuki Imanishi has joined to neglected tropical diseases the International Federation of Based in Geneva, the IFPMA, (NTDs). The IFPMA announced Pharmaceutical Manufacturers non-profit and nongovernmental in 2012 pledges of 14 billion & Associations (IFPMA) from organization, represents the re- treatments to help end nine Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo, search-based pharmaceutical NTDs as well as continued sup- Japan) as Executive Liaison Of- companies and associations port with research and develop- ficer. He has been working ac- across the globe. Its objective is ment and capacity-building pro- tively to strengthen Astellas to improve health around the grams. global relationship with the in- world by contributing expertise, ternational organization in Ge- building trust, and establishing Japanese pharmaceutical com- neva. solutions for global health. pany Astellas “My main mission is to increase “One of our challenges is to im- Astellas awareness and network prove the access to medicines in Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”) to Geneva international commu- developing countries. Although is a research-based pharmaceuti- nity of Non-Governmental Or- people in developed countries cal company with a total sales of ganizations (NGOs) such as the can access to all kinds of medi- USD 10.7 billion. It employs a World Health Organization cines from vaccines and essential total of 18,000 people world- (WHO), the World Intellectual medicines, to innovative brand wide. Property Organization (WIPO) medicines, they cannot access or the World Trade Organiza- even the essential medicines in (Continued on page 2)

Page 2 JETRO Switzerland Newsletter

Japan’s current economic situation 動向 According to the Cabinet Office, “Japanese economy is on the way

SITUATION to recovery at a moderate pace” and “the recovery is expected to take hold as household income and business investment continue to be on upward trends, while exports move toward picking up and the effects of the policies develop” (November 2013 report). The recovery of the Japan’s economy is reflected by several indices. As shown on the graph, the Tankan judgment survey on forecast for business conditions in- Tankan judgment survey on Unemployment rate creased for all sizes of manufactur- forecast for business conditions Source: Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Inter- Source: Bank of Japan nal Affairs and Communications ing industries. For instance, it increased from –10 in March 2013 to +14 in March 2014 for large manu- North America and +17.1% for an increase by 2.3% in nominal facturers. Moreover, the seasonally Western Europe. Exports of trans- terms and by 0.9% in real terms adjusted index of the industrial port equipments (+25.6%,) and of from the previous year. In addition, production rose 5.4% from the chemicals (+21.4%) increased at the the consumer price index rose 1.1% previous year to 99.3 in October fastest rates. to 100.7 (1010=100) in October 2013 2013 (2010=100). The domestic demand also contrib- over the year. Exports increased 18.4% over the uted to the economic recovery. The The unemployment rate continues year to ¥ 5,900 billion in Novem- average of monthly consumption to decrease. It was 4.0% in October ber. Exports were up for all re- expenditures per household was 2013 against 4.2% in October 2012 gions: +18.9% for Asia, +20.8% for ¥ 290,676 in October 2013, marking (see graph).

Astellas expands its network through international organization 会見 (Continued from page 1) through the merger of Yamanouchi the Latin word “stella” (star) and Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Fuji- the English “stellar” to mean INTERVIEW 55% of its turnover is achieved in sawa Pharmaceutical Co. “The com- “aspired stars”. Japan, 21% in the United States, petition of the pharmaceutical in- “I would like Astellas to contribute 20% in Europe and 4% in the rest dustry was getting more severe, that to the global society and commu- of Asia. is why we needed to reach to the nity as a shining star to fight Ranked 17 th largest pharmaceutical critical mass of our R&D expertise against diseases through develop- company in the world, it focuses & capacity and product portfolio by ing novel and innovative medicines on three main fields: urology, merging the two companies”, said for the patients who is suffering transplantation and cancer. Mr. Imanishi. The name of Astellas from painful diseases.”, he further It has been established in 2005 comes from “Stellas” named after said.

Issue 57 Page 3

Specialized ICT seminar at JETRO Geneva office JETRO Geneva held a seminar on 活動 ICT (Information and Communi- cation Technologies) on December ACTIVITY 2, 2013. JETRO’s Geneva Director General, Koichiro Nakamura, welcomed the participants. He also introduced JETRO’s worldwide and Swiss presence, Japan’s current economic situation and revitalization strategy. Yuki Hagihara, Vice-President of Fujitsu, presented Japan’s ICT market. He outlined that Japan is the second world largest IT mar- Yuki Hagihara, Vice-President, Fujitsu ICT Mini Seminar at JETRO Geneva office ket, accounting for 11% of the global spending. city of Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Following a closing speech by Phil- Furthermore, he introduced Fu- Prefecture, to develop an Energy ippe Meyer, Director of Interna- jitsu — the fourth largest IT ser- Control Center, and the one in col- tional Relations at the Geneva vices provider in the world. He laboration with Toyota Motor Cor- Chamber of Commerce and Indus- pointed out some recent Fujitsu’s poration on demonstration tests for try, and Services (CCIG), partici- smart community projects, such as energy data management in Aichi pants enjoyed a sake tasting pres- the one in collaboration with the Prefecture. entation and degustation. Japanese literature — Ode to slow food Ito Ogawa is a contemporary Japa- her mother in a remote countryside feelings such as deep love. Rinco’s 文化 nese writer born in 1973. She made area of Japan. Her mother is an ec- dishes are prepared with so much her first steps in the world of lit- centric person that shares her life love that it feeds not only the body CULTURE erature with Children’s literature. with a domesticated pig called Her- but also the soul, giving each per- Restaurant of Love Regained [Le restau- mes. She owns a bar, unique meet- son enough energy to keep on living rant de l’amour oublié ] is her first ing point of that village, in the mid- and to keep on smiling in spite of novel, it has been a real success in dle of nowhere. the bad trick of life such as disease. Japan, such a success that a film With no job, Rinco, who is pas- Quickly the rumor says that if one was even based on the novel. sionate with cooking, decides to eats at Rinco’s place called “The The story is very simple, yet ex- open a restaurant, and she discov- Snail” happiness and chance will tremely touching and full of po- ers talents in the art of making peo- knock at one’s door. etry. ple happy by cooking for them. The lesson of that refreshing novel The main character is Rinco, a Each dish is meditated and created is not only that love and compas- young woman of 25 years that depending on the personality of the sion can change lives but also that loses her voice after an unhappy guest. Rinco respects each food- food and slow food can lead to a end love story. She has nowhere to stuff as a gift from nature. She in- state of mind close to Nirvana. This go so, though it is not her real de- vents for her clients unique dishes book is like a modern fairytale with sire, she decides to go back to her that are prepared and enjoyed this fatalistic touch that character- home village. She goes to live with slowly awakening unsuspected izes Japan.

Issue 57 Page 4

First talk between human and robot in outer space 革新 Japan Aerospace Exploration as follows (translation from Japa- Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi nese): INNOVATION Wakata and robot Kirobo held the “Wakata: How did you get out here first experiment conversation in into space, Kirobo? outer space. The conversation took Kirobo: On a Kounotori* from Ta- place on December 6, on board the negashima. International Space Station (ISS). Wakata: Oh, so you flew all the way It was announced by Dentsu Inc. KIBO ROBOT PROJECT into space on a bird? © Dentsu Inc. All Rights Reserved on December 20. Kirobo: It wasn’t a bird, it was the This conversation was part of the is also providing support to this Kounotori rocket. joint research program KIBO RO- project. Wakata: It’s incredible that you BOT PROJECT. This project is The robot has a height of 34 cm came here all by yourself. carried out by Dentsu Inc. (a Japa- and a weight of approximately Kirobo: Well, I’m a robot! nese advertising agency), the Uni- 1 kg. Speaking Japanese, it can rec- *Kounotori is the Japanese word for versity of Tokyo’s Research Center ognize voice and has natural lan- “white stork” and is also the name for Advanced Science and Technol- guage processing as well as a voice of the H-II Transfer Vehicle used ogy, ROBO GARAGE Co., Ltd and synthesis. with the H-IIB Launch Vehicle”. Toyota Motor Corporation. JAXA The conversation experiment was

Agenda ✓ th 日程 21 Jan.: Swiss-Japanese Symposium 2014 — 150th anniversary of Swiss-Japanese relations 1:30 pm - 6 pm, City Hall, Winterthur AGENDA

JETRO’s Geneva team wishes you a Merry Christmas and the best for the New Year 2014!

We are looking forward to seeing you again and to continuing to support your business activities.

Rhine River, Rheinfelden

JETRO is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Originally established in 1958 to promote Japanese exports abroad, JETRO’s core focus in the 21st century has shifted toward promoting foreign direct investment into Japan and helping small to medium size Japanese firms maximize their global export potential.

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