EEECCCOOONNNOOOMMMIIICCC IIINNNTTTEEEGGGRRRAAATTTIIIOOONNN::: AAA NNNEEEWWW AAAPPPPPPRRROOOAAACCCHHH TTTOOO RRREEEFFFOOORRRMMM TTThhheee EEEBBBCCC RRReeepppooorrrttt ooonnn ttthhheee JJJaaapppaaannneeessseee BBBuuusssiiinnneeessssss EEEnnnvvviiirrrooonnnmmmeeennnttt 222000000777 The European Business Council in Japan ECONOMIC INTEGRATION: A NEW APPROACH TO REFORM The EBC Report on the Japanese Business Environment 2007 The European Business Council in Japan European Business Council in Japan The EBC is the trade policy arm of the following European business organisations in Japan: Austrian Business Council Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan British Chamber of Commerce in Japan Danish Chamber of Commerce in Japan Enterprise Estonia Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan Hellenic Foreign Trade Board Iceland Chamber of Commerce in Japan Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan Japan Ireland Economic Association Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Japan Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Japan Polish Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Japan Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan Executive Operating Board Chairman: Richard Collasse Senior Vice-Chairman: Hans Tempel Vice Chairman: Jean-Francois Minier Executive Operating Board: Michael A. Loefflad (Austria) Duco Delgorge (Belgium/Luxembourg) Peter F. Thewlis (Britain) Clas Eilersen (Denmark) Erik Ullner (Finland) Michel Theoval (France) Hans Tempel (Germany) Gerard Keown (Ireland) Paolo Pagani (Italy) Ronald Scherpenhuijsen Rom (Netherlands) Thorstein Strand (Norway) Hans Porat (Sweden) Alberto Groff (Switzerland) Executive Director: Alison Murray Policy Director: Jakob Edberg Executive Policy Officer: Clemence Mayali Communications Manager: Yoko Hijikuro About the EBC: The European Business Council (EBC) is the trade policy arm of the 18 European national chambers of Economic Integration: A New Approach to Reform commerce and business associations in Japan. The EBC Report on the Japanese Business Environment Established in 1972, the EBC works to improve the trade and investment environment for European companies 2007 doing business in Japan. The EBC currently represents some 3,000 local European companies and individuals who are members of their national chambers of commerce. Around 360 of Editor and Principal Author: Jakob Edberg the companies participate directly in the EBC’s 29 industry committees, whose work aims to improve the local business environment in a wide variety of economic sectors. Copyright © 2007 by the European Business Council in Japan The EBC speaks from a platform based on member consensus, representing the common view of companies from a major economic region in the world and one of Japan’s most important trading partners. All rights reserved The EBC works closely with the Delegation of the European Commission in Japan and the embassies of European countries to co-ordinate policy proposals and facilitate European business in Japan. Published by the European Business Council in Japan For more information on the EBC and its activities, please contact the EBC secretariat at the following address: Sanbancho POULA Bldg. 2F, 6-7 Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075 Sanbancho POULA Bldg. 2F Tel: 03-3263-6222 Fax: 03-3263-6223 6-7 Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075 Tel: 03-3263-6222 Fax: 03-3263-6223 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.ebc-jp.com E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.ebc-jp.com CONTENTS Message from the Chairman ...........................................................................................4 Message from the Executive Director.............................................................................5 Introduction ....................................................................................................................8 Business fundamentals Human resources ....................................................................................................16 Intellectual property................................................................................................18 Retail & wholesale..................................................................................................20 Legal services .........................................................................................................22 Tax..........................................................................................................................24 Financial services Asset management ..................................................................................................28 Banking...................................................................................................................30 Insurance.................................................................................................................32 Transportation and communications Airlines ...................................................................................................................36 Business aviation ....................................................................................................38 Logistics & freight..................................................................................................40 Media & communications.......................................................................................42 Shipping..................................................................................................................44 Telecommunications...............................................................................................46 Telecommunications equipment. ............................................................................48 Health science Animal health..........................................................................................................52 Medical diagnostics ................................................................................................54 Medical equipment .................................................................................................56 Pharmaceuticals ......................................................................................................58 Vaccines..................................................................................................................60 Consumer goods Cosmetics................................................................................................................64 Cut flowers..............................................................................................................66 Liquor .....................................................................................................................68 Food........................................................................................................................70 Industry Automotive components.........................................................................................74 Aeronautics.............................................................................................................76 Space.......................................................................................................................78 Defence...................................................................................................................80 Construction............................................................................................................82 Materials .................................................................................................................84 Environmental technology......................................................................................86 Automobiles............................................................................................................88 Appendices Blue Star Sponsors..................................................................................................92 Special Sponsors...................................................................................................100 Sponsors................................................................................................................101 Supporters.............................................................................................................103 Executive Operating Board...................................................................................104 Board of Governors ..............................................................................................105 Contents 3 Message from the Chairman It is my pleasure to introduce the annual report of the European Business Council in Japan (EBC) on the Japanese business environment, Economic Integration: A New Approach to Reform. As the title suggests, this year’s report presents not only an industry analysis of developments over the past year and recommendations for future economic reforms, but also closely examines how an EU-Japan Economic Integration Agreement (EIA) could strengthen the trade and investment relationship between Japan and the EU and vastly improve the business environment. While notable progress on the part of the Government has been achieved, Japan’s new leadership must address significant issues and critical economic reforms. In the past year, Prime Minister Abe pledged to continue the structural reforms of his predecessor and oversaw the expansion of Japan’s longest