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Acting Chairman Imai hosts 26th UK-Japan Business Partnership Seminar in British Hills.

On 18 October 2024, the 26th UK-Japan Business Partnership Seminar was held at the Ten-ei-mura facility in Fukushima Prefecture of British Hills, which is also a member of the British Market Council (BMC). Despite their busy schedules, 25 members and concerned parties came to British Hills in Fukushima Prefecture.

This year's theme was ‘FDI and UK-Japan cooperation’.
After opening remarks by Acting Chairman Imai and greetings from Mr Christopher Hunt, Minister-Counsellor, British Embassy in Tokyo, Mr Christopher Hunt, Minister-Counsellor, gave a speech entitled ‘Priorities for the new UK Government and opportunities for UK-Japan cooperation - A view from the UK’. The new Labour Government came to power this year for the first time in 14 years, and he gave an update on the new Government's policy priorities, opportunities for cooperation between the UK and Japan, and his thoughts on UK investment in Japan. The presentation was truly timely, with an up-to-date briefing on the latest information from just over 100 days after the Labour Government came to power, and a lively Q&A session.
Next, Mr Kenichiro Moroyu, Deputy Director, Investment Facilitation Division, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), gave an online presentation on ‘The Current Status of FDI Promotion and Government Efforts’. He explained the Japanese Government's policy to attract investment to Japan, and the efforts of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and others to implement measures such as collaborative partnerships between Japanese and overseas companies, regional support and business environment development. A lively Q&A session followed the lecture, and the seminar was well received by the participants following the seminar, who found it very useful.

The reception after the lecture took place at the Refectory, the main dining room at British Hills. The dinner was held in a typical medieval-style refectory, a faithful reproduction of a place where English monastic and university boarders gather to eat together, while enjoying an authentic dinner course featuring roast beef, a traditional British dish. After a speech by Acting Chairman Imai, Mr Motoyasu Sano, Chairman of SANO EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, which operates British Hills, gave a speech. British Hills President Hajime Nozawa gave his welcome address, followed by a toast. The meeting closed on a very positive note, with a friendly atmosphere of exchange between the British Embassy, guests and members.