Toegelaten gesloten verpakking: GENT X 03/50 België - Belgique P.B. Gent x 3/1294 P 409556 Belgium-Japan Association Chamber of Commerce 日白協会兼商工会議所 TRADE FLOWS & CULTURAL NEWS Number 95 - June 2012 EDITORIAL Bilateral relations between Japan and Belgium By His Excellency Luc Liebaut, Ambassador of Belgium to Japan As some of you might know I landed at Narita airport on in Belgium, the Belgian Embassy in Tokyo has a use- 16th March 2011, five days after the triple catastrophe ful role to play in keeping close contact with the head- HE Ambassador Luc Liebaut that hit the Tohoku region. I arrived in a country that quarters and the management of these companies. was courageously trying to cope with the immediate Ever since my arrival I have visited over 40 Japanese In this issue effects of the disaster. I witnessed how, with remark- investors in Belgium (and some 10 Belgian investors able strength, Japan tackled the many challenges it was in Japan). Each time, the representatives of the regions 2 BJA New Year Cocktail reception facing. The Japanese people’s resilience, unity and de- participated in the visits. Their objective stretches well 3 Seminar “Doing Business termination in the face of misfortune added a particu- beyond the level of a courtesy call. The discussions in- with Japan” lar dimension of respect and admiration to an instant variably focus on the economic and political situation 4 Day of Remembrance feeling of shared grief and solidarity. The experiences in the EU, on the experiences of the Japanese investors 5 Annual General Assembly of the BJA of these first months in office, especially the visits to – some of which have been developing activities in 6 Hanami Picnic in the the devastated areas and the contacts with some of the Belgium for over 30 years now – with the current invest- Japanese Garden afflicted communities, have left a lasting impression on ment climate in Belgium, on Belgium’s strengths and 7 The Queen Elisabeth me, one that will stay with me for the duration of my ‘imperfections’, on the companies’ future plan in Eu- Competition for Violin 8 EU-Japan News mission in Japan and beyond. rope in general and in Belgium in particular, as well as 11 News from the members Solidarity has been the key-word for a number of char- on specific problems they may be encountering and on 13 Cultural item ity activities that the Belgian Embassy, together with how the government authorities in Belgium could pos- 15 News for the members the different Japan-Belgium associations and with sibly assist in solving them. It goes therefore without 17 YES VIII Program 20 Personalia Belgian and Japanese volunteers, have been organiz- saying that I am a faithful reader of the BJA publications ing since the 11th March 2011. The proceeds from these and that I look forward to cooperating with the BJA in initiatives – which will continue till the end of 2012 – these fields. have helped finance urgent relief efforts by “Save the This year’s single most important event in the bilateral Children Japan” in Higashi Matsushima and are being relations between Japan and Belgium is no doubt the Advertising rates channelled via the Japanese Red Cross to contribute to economic mission to Japan, presided over by His Royal the reconstruction of the hospital of Motoyoshi (Kesen- Highness Prince Philippe, which will be taking place 4 issues (March, June, Sep- numa). The Belgian charity initiatives have been met from 10th to 16th June 2012. The mission is organized tember & December) with sympathy and gratitude. In this respect, I was par- jointly by the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency and by the 1 page .................... € 3.500 ticularly honoured by the presence of Her Majesty the regional institutions for foreign trade and investment 1/2 page ................ € 1.600 Empress of Japan at one of the charity events organized promotion (AWEX, Brussels Export and Flanders Invest- at the Belgian Embassy last February. ment and Trade). H.E. Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime contact: BJA Office Economic diplomacy is an important aspect of the du- Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade avenue Louise 287, box 7 ties of the federal diplomatic corps, even though the and European Affairs in the Belgian Federal Govern- 1050 Brussels centre of gravity with regard to export and investment ment, will join the mission. Moreover, three regional promotion lies with the regional authorities as a conse- ministers have also confirmed their participation: H.E. [email protected] quence of consecutive state reforms. Jean-Claude Marcourt, Vice-President and Minister of T 02/644 14 05 F 02/644 23 60 With the presence of over 200 Japanese companies keep reading on p.7 >> Resp. editor: A. Kellens - 287, avenue Louise bte 7 - 1050 Brussels - T +32 (0)2 644 13 33 F +32 (0)2 644 23 60 E [email protected] BJA quarterly newsletter / driemaandelijks tijdschrift (maart - juni - september - december) - Afgiftekantoor: Gent x We currently hold your contact details on our Trade Flows & Cultural News Database. We use this information for our own internal purposes only in order to send you this Trade Flows & Cultural Newsletter. If any of your details are incorrect or if you no longer wish to receive this publication, please inform us by e-mail at [email protected] www.bja.be BJA REPORT BJA New Year Cocktail Reception BJA 新年カクテルパーティー Thursday 26 January 2012 - Egmont Palace Mr Jeroen Dhanens, Corporate Affairs & Communications Director (from left to right) H.E. Ambassador Yokota of the Japanese Embassy, Mr (from left to right) H.E. Ambassador Liebaut of the Embassy of Belgium Belux of JTI (second from right) together with his guests enjoying the Hermann of FPS Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Shiojiri of the Japanese to Japan, honours us with his presence to the BJA New Year Party and is exceptional evening. Mission to the EU, and Mr Van Overstraeten of Linklaters LLP all together delighted to meet with Mr Hoorelbeke, Chairman of Daikin Europe and performed “Kagamiwari”, traditional sake barrel breaking. BJA Board Member, and H.E. Ambassador Yokota of Embassy of Japan to Belgium. In honor of Belgium-Japan relations and the upcoming Princely After the new year greetings delivered by H.E. Ambassador Jun Trade Mission to Japan in June 2012, the Belgium-Japan Asso- Yokota, of the Japanese Embassy, the traditional ‘Kagamiwari’ - ciation & Chamber of Commerce had the pleasure in celebrat- breaking of a sake barrel ceremony - was performed together ing the promising New Year at the prestigious setting of the with H.E. Ambassador Yokota, H.E. Ambassador Kojiro Shiojiri Egmont Palace. of Mission of Japan to the EU, Mr Hermann, and Mr Van Over- Mr Tanguy Van Overstraeten, BJA Vice-President and Partner at straeten. After the successful sake barrel breaking, the guests Linklaters LLP, opened the evening with thanking the members continued to enjoy the evening with delicious sushi, sake and for their continuous support to the BJA and to the FPS Ministry canapés, which were generously sponsored by JTI. The partici- of Foreign Affairs for their generosity in welcoming us. pants left the venue full of smiles and joy… it certainly was a Mr Patrick Hermann, Bilateral Affairs & Economic Diplomacy, Of- promising start of the year 2012, the year in which His Royal fice of the Deputy Prime Minister, FPS Foreign Affairs on behalf Highness Prince Filip of Belgium will lead the trade mission to of His Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Didier Reynders, Japan in June. welcomed the BJA members and guests, praising the good rela- tions both nations and its citizens have with each other. 2 BJA REPORT Seminar “Doing Business with Japan” First YES VIII Briefing Session Thursday 9 February 2012 – Diegem Mr Olivier van Beneden, Managing Director Japan Consulting Office, H.E. Ambassador Jun Yokota with Mrs Fabienne l’Hoost of the Belgian Mr Eric Resler, Attorney-at-law, Reslex, discussing the legal aspects of sharing some experience and advice on how to communicate with Foreign Trade Agency, Mr Gijs Kooken, Attaché, Unizo International and distribution in Japan with Mr Wim Eynatten, Partner at Deloitte (left) Japanese business people. Mrs Anja Oto-Kellens, Executive Director at the BJA. and Mr Peter Moreau, Partner at Ernst & Young (right). UNIZO International, in co-operation with the Japanese Em- and BJA Vice-President, and Mr Karel De Wolf, Export Manager bassy in Belgium, FIT, KBC Bank NV and the Belgium-Japan As- of Ganda Ham. sociation & Chamber of Commerce, invited all to a seminar to Firstly, Mr Gijs Kooken, Attaché at UNIZO International opened discover the challenges and opportunities of Japan and doing the seminar with his welcome words. He was followed by Mrs business with Japanese. The event was also the first briefing Ann Blondé, Managing Director zeal and BJA YES Committee session for the YES VIII selected companies, who could have a Chairwoman who pointed out the opportunities of the Young first taste of what doing business in Japan is all about. Executive Stay (YES) Program, which has its 8th edition this This session gave opportunities to listen and raise questions year. to successful business leaders and experts: H.E. Mr Jun Yoko- Mr Karl Verlinden, Managing Director Qualiphar and Chairman ta, Ambassador of Japan to Belgium, Mr Eric Resler, Attorney- of UNIZO International concluded this evening rich of experi- at-law at Reslex, Mr Olivier van Beneden, Managing Director ence and advice on the Japanese Mr Edward De Beukelaer, President CEO E. of Japan Consulting Office, Mrs Fabienne l’Hoost, Deputy Di- market, followed by a lovely & H. De Beukelaer & Co. and BJA Vice-President, rector-General at the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency, Mr Edward networking cocktail.