Acting Chairman of the British Market Council (BMC) Imai held a New Year's party.
Date：2025/01/20(Mon)
The BMC New Year's Party was held on 20 January 2025 (Mon) at the Imperial Hotel, Sakura Room, with approximately 140 members and stakeholders in attendance.
Opening remarks were made by Acting Chairman Imai, followed by greetings from Mr Emil Levendoğlu, Minister and Deputy Head of Mission and Charge d'Affaires, British Embassy Tokyo. Mr Yoda, Deputy Director General for Trade and Economic cooperation (Southeast Aisia/Latin America) and reconstruction of Ukraine, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), delivered a speech on behalf of the guests, followed by a toast by Mr Asada, Honorary Corporate Advisor, Marubeni Corporation (Honorary Adviser to BMC and former Chairman).
Acting Chairman Imai noted that 2024 was a year of further development of co-operation between the UK and Japan following 2023, and expressed hope for increased business opportunities for UK and Japanese companies in the future, taking advantage of the UK joining the CPTPP and the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which opens in April 2025.
Mr Emil Levendoğlu, British Embassy touched on the Hiroshima Accord to be issued by the British and Japanese Governments in May 2023, the UK's participation in the CPTPP, UK initiatives at the Osaka/Kansai Expo and the UK Pavilion's mascot, PIX, which symbolises the message of “Come Build The Future” that the UK Pavilion is sending out to the world. The British Embassy in Japan displayed a PIX banner next to the Japanese flag at the venue to promote the mascot, which was unveiled on 16 January.
Mr Yoda, METI stated that the UK and Japan share common principles such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and that the two countries are partners not only in the economy but also in defence and security, and that exchanges between private companies are effective for the future development of UK-Japan relations.
Mr Asada, Marubeni Corporation (Honorary Advisor to the BMC and former Chairman), introduced some of the activities of the British Market Council last year, including the UK-Japan Nuclear Industry Forum, and proposed a toast to strengthen UK-Japan relations and to the good health of the members and all concerned.
The event was followed by a very successful reception with the British Embassy in Japan, UK local government, METI, other stakeholders and BMC members.
From left to right: Mr Imai, Mr Levendoğlu, Mr Yoda and Mr Asada
New Year's party 2025 - the joyous occasion.
the 2025 World Exposition in Kansai, Osaka, Japan
Mascot for the British Pavilion ‘PIX’.
