BRT news archive | EU-Japan Business Round Table

Here is a selection of news reports, events and other items that referenced/involved the BRT or one or more of its members:

Statement by the BRT co-Chairs on the outcome of the 2022 EU-Japan Summit

19/05/2022 – Philippe Wahl (Chairman and CEO, Le Groupe La Poste) & Masaki Sakuyama (Senior Corporate Advisor, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) - co-Chairs of the EU-Japan Business Round Table - issue a statement on the outcome of the 28th EU-Japan Summit.

The statement was prepared by Le Groupe La Poste and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. It contains the BRT co-Chairs' reaction to the outcome of the 12 May 2022 EU-Japan Summit and the content of the Summit's official "Joint Statement" and "Japan-EU Digital Partnership" statement.

English and Japanese versions of the BRT co-Chairs' statement are available.

The issuing of the statement was reported on the EU-Japan Centre's Japanese Facebook page.

BRT Statement in Japanese on outcome of 2022 EU-Japan Summit

Formal submission of the BRT's 2021 Recommendations to the Prime Minister of Japan

On 9 February 2022, the joint recommendations of the European Union-Japan Business Round Table (BRT) were presented to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida by the two BRT co-chairs, Masaki Sakuyama (Senior Advisor at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) and Philippe Wahl (Chairman and CEO of La Poste Groupe) who was represented by Michael Mroczek, Chair of the European Business Council in Japan, at a ceremony in Tokyo.

Adopted at last November’s annual BRT Meeting, the recommendations noted the key aspects of digital transition, decarbonisation and trade regulatory cooperation towards a more digital and greener future for both sides. They also underlined the importance of the free movement of businesspeople, which has been strongly impacted by the COVID pandemic with risks of delayed and cancelled investments. EU Ambassador to Japan Patricia Flor as well as representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present.

Handover Michael Mroczek (Chair of the European Business Council in Japan) representing Philippe Wahl (BRT EU-side Chair and Chairman & CEO of La Poste Groupe) observes Masaki Sakuyama (BRT Japan-side Chair and Senior Advisor at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) submit the BRT's 2021 Recommendations to Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan.

For more on the handover and on the 2021 annual meeting see the official meeting webpage and the related cuttings webpage. The handover was reported on the website of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (English page here, Japanese page here).

Interview with BRT co-Chairman Sakuyama

July 2021 - The July edition of Eurobiz Japan includes an interview with / profile of Masaki Sakuyama, co-chairman of the EU–Japan Business Round Table, chairman of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.

The first part of the article entitled, Making a difference behind the scenes, looks at the BRT and its work - Mr Sakuyama's role, key issues for the BRT, reactions from the Government of Japan, BRT's 'achievements', the BRT's evolution and the involvement of the EBC in Japan.

The second part of the interview addresses Mitsubishi Electric and its activities.

Eurobiz Japan is the magazine of the European Business Council in Japan. The article was promoted on the eurobiz facebook page.

BRT position paper on the coronavirus pandemic

25/05/2020 - The EU-Japan Business Round Table (BRT) has issued a Position Paper on the challenges posed by coronavirus, steps that it believes can and should be taken and ideas that could help rebuild the EU and Japanese economies.

The paper was prepared by Mitsubishi Electric and Le Groupe La Poste in consultation with the BRT's 55 Members. The first part of the paper summarises the challenges facing the whole world and identifies areas in which the BRT believes the EU and Japan can cooperate and show leadership. The second part of the paper suggests some steps that could help mitigate medical and economic aspects of the pandemic. The final part of the paper identifies 4 issues the BRT believes could provide opportunities for the EU and Japan as we emerge from the current crisis.

There are two versions of the Position Paper - an English one and a Japanese one.

BRT at the 2019 EU-Asia Connectivity Forum

Brussels - 27/09/2019 - BRT Japan-side Chairman Masaki Sakuyama (Chairman of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) took part in the EU-Asia Connectivity Forum - Building Bridges for a Sustainable Future event, organised by the European Commission.

Mr Sakuyama delivered the keynote address during the session on "The Standards and Norms of Connectivity".

For a summary of his address and a copy of his slides, please see the BRT at the 2019 EU-Asia Connectivity Forum webpage.

Entry into force of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

01 February 2019 - To mark the entry into force of the EPA and linked SPA agreement, the EU-Japan Business Round Table issued a statement, entitled "A New Era for the EU and Japan Starts Today" and which begins...

For the full statement and links to information and practical guides aimed at helping EU and Japanese companies take full advantage of the EPA please see the EPA page of this website. The Statement is also available in Japanese and in a bilingual PDF.

17 July 2018 - BRT Japan-side Chairman, Masaki Sakuyama (Chairman, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) and Danny Risberg (Chairman, EBC in Japan, for the BRT's EU-side) represent the BRT at the ceremony to mark the signing of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement and Strategic Partnership Agreement.