********************************************************************* Issue 81 [March 2014] OCCI e-Magazine http://www.osaka.cci.or.jp/e/index.html ********************************************************************* [CONTENTS: March 2014] 1. A Middle East study tour mission is dispatched to Dubai and Turkey 2. Senior official of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan, is invited to Japan 3. 12th Osaka Business Networking Club is held at MBS 4. OCCI International Division report on VIP visitors ===================================================================== 1. A Middle East study tour mission is dispatched to Dubai and Turkey In collaboration with the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME), the OCCI dispatched an industry study tour mission to two countries in the Middle East from February 9 (Sun.) to 15 (Sat.). As part of the Project gTo Open up Rising Nations' Market,h the OCCI is implementing the gIslamic Area Business Support Program,h and this mission was dispatched as part of this program. The mission visited Dubai and Turkey: Dubai, within emirate in the UAE, is a city- state representative of the Middle Eastern Gulf region that continues to expand as an economic, financial, and distribution hub. Turkey is now gathering attention as a base for the expansion of business into North Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. In Turkey, the mission also met up with a mission from the Japan/Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (which was visiting Turkey and Israel). Comprising 18 participants representing 17 companies-mainly OCCI member companies-the mission aimed to deepen knowledge about the glocal investment environmenth and thegstatus of activity of local companies and Japanese companies that have established local bases,h which is important for small and medium businesses considering future overseas expansion. In Dubai, the mission visited the Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ), which is the fastest-growing free zone in the Middle East region, and DP World (Dubai Ports World), the world's No. 3 marine terminal operations company. The mission also visited Middle East Electricity, the world's largest energy industry exhibition. Participants were able to feel the spirit of Dubai, which aims to be the world's No.1 hub centering on the distribution, finance, and tourism industries. In Turkey, the Osaka mission joined the 12-member Japan/Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry mission in visiting Taisei Corporation, the company that constructed the Marmaray tunnel under the Bosphorus Strait, where they heard stories of the difficulties involved in completing the tunnel, which Turkey had ardently desired to build for 150 years, as well as explanations of the company's high technological capabilities. The mission also visited Daikin Turkey, which is expanding its bases in Turkey by purchasing local companies. Here participants learned from concrete examples about business operation in Turkey as well as management and training of local workers. At a networking event with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey(TOBB), information was exchanged that will lead to business opportunities with local Turkish companies. At a briefing provided by the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), mission participants learned about the Turkish Government's investment promotion policies, initiatives, and investment case examples. The mission also received briefings by the local JETRO offices in both of Dubai and Turkey on the latest economic information for the two countries and had opportunities to meet with representatives of Japanese companies that have established local bases in these countries. The OCCI intends to continue to pour its efforts into business exchange with Middle Eastern and other Islamic countries. ===================================================================== 2. Senior official of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan, is invited to Japan With economic relations growing stronger and stronger between Japan and Taiwan, the OCCI and the Industrial Scholarship Center, for which the OCCI acts as secretariat, invited Mr. He Jin Chuang, Chief Secretary of the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Dr. Li Xiang Ping of ITRI to Japan for a 6-day session conducted March 3-8. ITRI has concluded a business partnership memorandum with the OCCI regarding water business, and it is expected that economic relations between Taiwan and Osaka will further strengthen. The purpose of the session was to introduce Osakafs business environment as well as small and medium business support activities to Mr. He and Dr. Li in the hope that they will in future be even more active as bridges between Osaka and Taiwan. In addition to lecture regarding Osaka and Kansai economic activities and OCCI activities, the program included study tours of small and medium business support organizations in Osaka as well as visits to small and medium companies that are doing business with Taiwan, and opinions were exchanged. Furthermore, explanations were received from Mr. He about the activities of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan, and from Dr. Li about the activities of ITRI to further strengthening the relationship between Taiwan and the OCCI with the aim of enhancing collaboration with the OCCI in the future. ===================================================================== 3. 12th Osaka Business Networking Club is held at MBS On February 18, the Osaka Business and Investment Center (O-BIC) (Secretariat: OCCI International Division) held the g12th Osaka Business Networking Clubh with the cooperation of MBS (Mainichi Broadcasting System). The event was attended by 35 representatives of foreign companies that have established bases in Osaka, foreign diplomatic missions, and economic organizations. During the event, attendees participated in a preview tour of MBS's new building, which is due to open on April 4, 2014, visiting the studios and program production areas equipped with the cutting- edge equipment. This tour was followed by a lecture presentation during which Mr. Fumitoshi Iwamoto, Assistant to the Director of MBS's Compliance Office, explained the program production process, effective PR techniques, and other ways of utilizing the mass media in an easy-to-understand manner as he gave case examples. At the networking party that followed, Mr. Masahiro Yamamoto, Senior Advisor and Supreme Adviser to MBS, showed his enthusiasm, saying, gWith the opening of our new building, we intend to play an even more active role as a community-based, open broadcasting station.h Attendees praised the event highly, commenting that, gthe event was very impressive and meaningful as I was able to see behind-the-scenes of a familiar TV station as well as network with many people.h ===================================================================== 4DOCCI International Division report on VIP visitors February 20(Thu.) Mr. Abdullah S. Al MOBTY, Chairman, Council of Saudi Chambers March 7(Fri.) Ms. Sherry MENOR-MCNAMARA, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii March 19(Wed.) H.E. Mr. Truong Tan SANG, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam ŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸž 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 ŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸžŸž = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 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.