********************************************************************* Issue 73 [May 2013] OCCI e-Magazine http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/index.html ********************************************************************* [CONTENTS: May 2013] 1. Notification 1) Opening of Study Sessions of doing business in the Islamic nations @@2) gKansai EPAs Monthlyh-a pack of FTA promotional events- 2. FY 2012 report on attracting business and investment by the Osaka Business and Investment Center (O-BIC) 3. Grand Front Osaka opens! 4. Osaka Government Tourism Bureau inaugurated 5. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors ===================================================================== 1. Notification 1) Opening of Study Sessions of doing business in the Islamic nations This fiscal year, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry will implement the Support Program of doing businesses with Islamic nations, which will conduct such activities as holding study sessions and business talks targeting the Islamic market and dispatching study missions to Islamic nations. Islamic nations account for about one-fourth of the population of the entire world and have now become the worldfs largest community with remarkable economic growth, which includes not only Middle Eastern countries but also such countries as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Turkey. As such, OCCI will unfold this program for companies that hope to start or have already started doing business in Islamic nations. To kick off this program, OCCI will hold the gFirst Study Session on Basics for doing Business with Companies in Islamic Nationsh on June 24. Participants will learn about the mechanisms and outlines of doing business in Islamic nations, the types of business that offer many opportunities for Japanese companies such as Halal business, and an outline of Islamic nations that have attracted business attention. EDate: June 24 (Mon) 14:00 - 16:00 EWebsite: http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/b/pdf13/130624ibj.pdf @@2)gKansai EPAs Monthlyh ?a pack of FTA promotional events- Aiming to expand the utilization of EPAs (Economic Partnership Agreements) and FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) in Kansai region, three local Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe will jointly hold the gKansai EPAs Monthlyh in June, implementing the following three projects: A)gSeminar on How to utilize EPAsh @@@which is intended to introduce basic matters such as the procedure for using EPAs. EDate and Venue: June 6 (Thu) at Osaka and 7 (Fri), 13:30 ? 16:30 at Kyoto @@@@EWebsite: http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/b/epa1306/ (in Japanese) B) Symposium gThe Impact of Multi-National FTAs including EU-Japan EPA, TPP, RCEPh 1. Sponsor: Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2. Supporters: Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry 3. Date & Time: 13:30-17:00, Wednesday 12 June 2013 4. Venue: International Conference Hall, Osaka Chamber Building: 5. Program 13F30 Opening 13F35 Presentation 1 gEU-Japan EPA for Mutual Growthh (tentative) Mr. Bruno JULIEN-MALVY, First Secretary, Trade Section, Delegation of the European Union to Japan 14F20 Presentation 2 gMulti-national FTAs in the Asia-Pacific region including TPP; their prospect and impact on Japanese companiesh (tentative) Mr. Junichi Sugawara, Senior Research Officer, Mizuho Research Institute, Ltd. 15F10 Break 15F20 Panel Discussion gMulti FTA and Business Strategies for Japanh Mr. Masakazu Shima, CEO, Logistique Inc. Four (4) local business representative (machine, textile and medical equipment manufactures and a distributor of food and food staff) Mr. Bruno Julien-Malvy, Mr. Junichi Sugawara 17F00 Close 6. Audience: 300 local business persons 7. Remarks (1) Open to the Media (2) Outline of the Symposium is reported afterwards in the newsletter of the sponsor. C)gIndividual Consultation Session,h Direct Consultation on EPA&FTA upon reservation * Experts of EPA will make face to face advice to local companies ===================================================================== 2. FY 2012 report on attracting business and investment by the Osaka Business and Investment Center (O-BIC) The Osaka Business and Investment Center (O-BIC, the Secretariat is inside OCCI's International Division), which was jointly established by the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Osaka prefectural and municipal governments, announced the results of its efforts to attract business and investment in fiscal 2012. Regardless of such adverse factors as the appreciation of the yen, the power problem, and the relationship issues between Japan and China /Korea, the O-BIC succeeded in attracting 32 companies and institutions, a number that exceeds its average (25 companies) before now. When highlighting the countries/regions of companies entering Osaka, there were 25 investments from Asian countries, including China, the largest investor, and South Korea, which together account for nearly 80% of the total. In particular, the opening of Osaka Offices of three banks from Asian countries in order to support their client companies which have been based in and/or are entering in Osaka/Kansai market, more active business exchanges between Osaka and those Asian countries can be expected in the future. On top of this, some companies succeeded in entering Osaka with assistance provided by gSubsidy by Osaka Prefectural Government to Foreign Companies for Investment Promotionh. Since the initiation two years ago, this subsidy has steadily contributed to O-BIC's success in attracting overseas companies. Specific activities of O-BIC included giving advice through 94 consultations altogether last year, and, an arrangement based on O-BIC's unique Company Invitation Program of study tours and individual business talks with companies in Osaka to meet the needs of overseas companies that were motivated to enter Osaka. O-BIC also advertised Japan's first special economic zone tax privilege of gzero local taxh by participating exhibitions, holding seminars, and visiting companies in both Japan and countries overseas. O-BIC has attracted a total of 312 companies to Osaka in the 11 years since the opening of its center. ===================================================================== 3DGrand Front Osaka opens! On April 26, the redeveloped area north of JR Osaka Station called gUmekitah was opened as gGrand Front Osaka,h a huge building complex. Tenants of this facility include many restaurants/cafes and stores that use gJapan's firsth or gKansai's firsth in their catch phrases. The Shops and Restaurants section has an area of 44,000m2 in which 266 fashion- related stores, variety stores, life-style-related stores, and cafes/restaurants are congregated, one of Japan's largest such facilities that are directly connected to a transport terminal in the center of a city. Grand Front Osaka houses installations such as the gKnowledge Capital,h which is intended for companies to present their state-of-the-art technologies, and other facilities that have attracted widespread attention. With a rich array of business facilities, including a convention center, multi-purpose theater, various types of laboratories, salons for business innovation, showrooms, and conference rooms, Grand Front Osaka is an intelligent creative space that not only provides entertainment but also realizes industry creation, cultural communication, international exchanges, and development of human resources. In the areas surrounding Osaka Station including the Knowledge Capital, which are designated as the Kansai Innovation Comprehensive Global Strategic Special Zone, businesses can receive financial support and other support through the tax system from the national government for their various projects, such as promotion of research and development in the medical supplies field, commercialization of state-of-the-art medical technologies, and environmental improvement and promotion of R&D in the area of preemptive medicine. With such efforts as Japanfs first introduction of a tax privilege system involving gzero local taxh depending on the types of businesses/ conditions of entering the Strategic Special Zone, expectations for the creation of innovation through industrial-academic-government cooperation are growing. ===================================================================== 4DOsaka Government Tourism Bureau inaugurated The Osaka Government Tourism Bureau, which was established by Osaka's economic circles, including Osaka prefectural and municipal governments and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a driving force for achieving the goal of attracting 6.5 million foreign tourists to Osaka by 2020, was inaugurated on April 1. Having welcomed its new Director Kunio Kano, a former Regional Director for North Asia of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the new bureau will unfold its project by placing importance on competitiveness, efficiency and achievement with flexible execution from Mr. Kano's professional perspective of tourism through rich experiences of working for private companies. From now on, the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau will proclaim its part as an organization that can carry out its projects as the gOsaka Government Tourism Bureau.h In line with this, Shinichi Fukushima, Chairman of the Board of New Kansai International Airport Company Ltd. and Kenji Nishida, Managing Director and Secretary General of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, assumed the offices of Chairman and President of the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, respectively. ===================================================================== 5DOCCI International Division report on VIP visitors May 2 (Thu.) Mr. Drahomir STOS, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Japan May 9 (Thu.) Ms. Catherine Taylor, Consul General and Senior Trade Commissioner Australian Consulate-General, Osaka O-BIC as one-stop service center for creating a foothold in Osaka http://o-bic.net/ Osaka Business & Investment Center (O-BIC), established in 2001, is operated through the joint efforts of the Osaka Prefectural Government, Osaka City Government, and Osaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry. As your one-stop service center for business investing, O-BIC provides a comprehensive yet detailed support system. International companies, foreign government offices and economic organizations as well as foreign-capitalized companies located in Japan are welcome to use the center to obtain accurate information and essential advice for creating a foothold in Osaka. For further information, please contact: o-bic@osaka.cci.or.jp = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Chief Editor : Shinji MARUYAMA, Director of International Division, OCCI Mailed by : Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, International Division Address : 2-8 Hommachi-bashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan 540-0029 Tel : +81-(0)6-6944-6400 Fax : +81-(0)6-6944-6293 Contact Persons : Kazuko KAMADO (Ms.), Hikaru KOHAMA (Mr.) Back Numbers of OCCI e-Magazine: http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/mail/index.html = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = * Please contact us through the email (kohama@osaka.cci.or.jp) to inform us of your change of e-mail address, or of your wishes not to receive OCCI e-Magazine.