29 Jan Message from the CEO
Welcome to the New Year.
A Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) mission to Australia kicks off the year. Having over 70 participants, the mission is led by its Chairman Dr Akio Mimura AC, who is also Chairman of the AJBCC’s counterpart body in Japan, the JABCC. The mission visits Sydney and Canberra in February, with AJBCC members invited to attend a reception to meet the companies. In March, the Japanese Embassy will host its 4th Japan-Australia Infrastructure Networking Meeting. This is a significant event in the annual calendar as we are seeing increasing involvement by Japanese companies in the infrastructure field driven by the Australian State and Federal Governments targeting increased investment in this area. Japan will also continue to be front and centre during 2020 with the hosting of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, coming off the back of an acknowledged successful Rugby World Cup in 2019. From 18-20 October, 2020 the AJBCC will hold its 58th annual Joint Business Conference in Adelaide. (It will be held there for the first time since 1990).
Japan is grappling with a number of issues in common with Australia and although faced with differing backgrounds, it is interesting to see how Japan approaches them – one of these is covered in this month’s Japan Business Alert.
Finally, 50 years ago last month, I made my first independent visit to Japan and the start of an incredible journey. Surprised and delighted to receive an AM for my “significant service to Australia-Japan relations, and to business” in the Australia Day 2020 honours list.
David Jacobs AM
CEO