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Japan-Germany Investment Symposium in Berlin (July 4, 2005)
Together with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour, JETRO organized the Japan-Germany Investment Symposium in Berlin, under the theme of "Innovation through Business Alliances". The event, which is part of a series of investment promotion seminars that JETRO has been holding in Europe since the inauguration of the "Japan-EU Investment Initiative" in May 2003, attracted more than 200 participants, including prominent business people and government officials from both Japan and Germany.
In his opening speech, Japan's ambassador to Germany, Yushu Takashima, stressed that two-way investment was essential for strengthening the competitive edge of both countries. Georg W. Adamowitsch, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour, highlighted the importance of mutual cooperation between the two countries in important areas like high-tech R&D.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Tsutomu Kimura of the National Institute for Academic Degrees and University Education emphasized that cross-border business tie-ups and collaborations were vital for creating innovation in both countries. Dr. Günther Tränkle, a board member of the Leibniz Association and another keynote speaker, stressed the importance of creating partnerships between Japanese and German firms and spoke about how the relative strengths of each country (Germany's basic research and Japan's experience in moving products to market) could be combined to equally serve both countries.
In his keynote address, Osamu Watanabe, head of JETRO, discussed Japan's on-going efforts to welcome FDI and provided an overview of the current Japanese economy and the progress of economic integration in East Asia, how the enormous amounts of time and money required of high-tech R&D is a strong argument for creating more cross-border tie-ups and collaborations in this area. He also spoke Japan's attractiveness as an investment destination and how the country is becoming the natural gateway to expanding markets in other parts of East Asia, namley China and ASEAN.
Representatives from the enterprises of both countries took part in a lively panel discussion that covered topics ranging from visas to the importance of transparency in legal and administrative procedures.
And in his summary at the conclusion of the symposium, Bernd Ziesemer, editor-in-chief of Handelsblatt, said that in order for Japan and Germany to pave the way for innovation and progress, both countries need to deepen their relationship and work to bolster each other's image at home, while also helping to dispel old myths and prejudices.
