Rising importance of land of the rising sun

A CALL has gone out to businesses across the North West to maximise trading opportunities with Japan.

The region continues to provide a home for Japanese companies employing the greatest number of people outside London.

According to data from UKTI, there are 29,600 people across 28 factories and manufacturers, 16 research, development and design facilities  and nine European headquarters in the North West.

The rallying call came from Jo Ahmed, partner of global employer services at  Deloitte in the North West, at the professional services firm’s annual Japanese business dinner which took place at the Etihad Stadium.

She said: “There are a whole host of Japanese businesses in the North West and this event provides an opportunity for us to develop these relationships even further.
 
“Our global focus at Deloitte has recently been geared towards India and China, but it is equally important for us to continue to strengthen links with Japan.

“They have been valuable trading partners for Manchester’s businesses for a very long time and we are constantly looking for new ways to retain those links, in addition to forging new ones.
 
“The support from the Japanese Embassy has been fantastic and, in conjunction with MIDAS and UKTI, we are working together in true Manchester style to help bring more inward investment to the region and provide a boost to Britain’s exports.

“This benefits the wider economy and enables us to show the Japanese embassy exactly what we’re doing as a city.”
 
The fifth annual event was attended by 65 delegates, including a number of Deloitte advisers, along with MIDAS, UKTI and senior executives from Japanese and British businesses.

There is no other event of its kind in the region that provides a platform for Japanese and North West business leaders to network and establish valuable connections.
 
Each year Deloitte handpicks a venue that has a clear link with Japan. Manchester City’s Etihad stadium was chosen for this year’s event because the football club has a 20% stake in Japanese J-League club Yokohama F Marinos.

Speakers included Jorge Chumillas, CFO at Manchester City, Takao Toshishige, managing director of City Football Japan, and Hiroshi Matsuura, economic minister from the Embassy of Japan in the UK.