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Ⅰ. Aim

According to its constitution, the aim of the BMC is to “contribute to establishing and maintaining sound and stable partnership and economic relations, including trade and investment, between the UK and Japan.”

Ⅱ. Activities

1. Activities for trade promotion

Since it was first set up in 1973, the BMC has been implementing various projects in order to promote imports from the UK as well as for Japanese industries wishing to set up operations in the UK. In 1988, the British Government started a campaign to promote exports to Japan called ‘Opportunity Japan’. The original aim of the campaign still continues today but under different slogans. In response to this export promotion campaign by the UK government, the BMC established a task force in 1988 (called Import Promotion Committee in 1998 and then the Trade Promotion Committee in 2003) to support the following activities:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

The expenses incurred for these activities are mainly subsidized by membership fees for the Trade Promotion Committee. For events considered to be especially meeting the target aims of the BMC, subsidies were provided by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and are currently by a few numbers of Foundations.

2. Activities promoting Anglo-Japanese partnerships and friendships among member companies

In order to promote partnerships between the two countries, the BMC holds the following events with the support of the British Embassy in Japan, as well as working its network to bring about other events for members:

(1)

New Year party
A New Year party is held in end-January attended by approximately 150 members and guests.

(2)

Trade Promotion Committee meetings
The meetings are held annually in the middle of April to discuss and decide which projects of the British Embassy are to be supported by BMC.

(3)

Annual meeting and regular meeting at the British Embassy
The BMC annual meeting and regular meeting in June are held in the New Hall of the British Embassy, with reception for members and Embassy staff afterwards.

(4)

Anglo-Japanese business partnership seminars hosted jointly by the British Embassy in Japan and the BMC
Since 1999 there have been fourteen annual seminars held jointly with the British Embassy at the British Hills (a British-style lodging and events hall in Fukushima). Since 2014 seminars are held in Tokyo for convenience of guests.

(5)

Christmas party at English Pub HUB
At every year end, a party is held with approximately 70 people attending.

Ⅲ. Its History

In 1973, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (then known as the Ministry of International Trade and Industry) sent the first mission group to the UK to promote imports. The BMC was then set up as a private organization by members of the mission group. Taiichiro Matsuo, leader of the mission group, became Chairman, and remained in the position for 25 years. In July 1998, Shinroku Morohashi, Senior Corporate Advisor to Mitsubishi Corporation, became the new chairman until Shigeji Ueshima, Counselor to Mitsui & Co., Ltd., took over in June 2006.Kenji Miyahara, Honorary Adviser to Sumitomo Corporation, was Chairman since June 2011 and Teruo Asada, Chairman of the Board of Marubeni Corporation was Chairman since June 2015. In June 2021, Yoshihisa Suzuki, Vice Chairman, Member of the Board of Itochu Corporation became the 6th Chairman of BMC. In April 2024, Mr Masahiro Imai, Ambassador, Senior Vice Representative for External Affairs, ITOCHU Corporation has succeeded Suzuki as acting chairman.

The British government first started promoting imports to Japan in 1988 with its Opportunity Japan campaign, followed by Priority Japan in April 1991, which ended successfully in March 1994. The Action Japan campaign then began in April 1994, continuing as New Action Japan after April 1998. The campaign changed its name to Trade Partners UK in May 2000, bringing all imports -promotion campaigns targeting foreign countries under one slogan. Preceding this in 1999, the British government had set up British Trade International. This merged in 2003 with the Investment Sector to become UK Trade & Investment.
GREAT 2012 Campaign has begun since 2012, which is to let people know strength of UK in various fields using such logo as “Fashion is GREAT Britain” “Make it in GREAT Britain” “Innovation is GREAT” and “Business is GREAT” etc. and to promote expansion of business opportunity. BMC is collaborating in this campaign.

Ⅳ. Annual membership fee

1. Ordinary membership: 150,000 yen
2. Trade Promotion Committee membership: 500,000 yen extra

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