Rekindling the Relationship: Japan-Canada Chambers Council
Opening Remarks: 9:30 a.m.
Session 1: 10:00 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Keynote: 1:00 p.m.
Session 2: 1:30 p.m.
Session 3: 3:00 p.m.
Reception: 4:30 p.m.
Tickets:
Individuals: $199 (Includes taxes)
For table purchases, please contact Lisa Kaisers at or call 604-640-5484.
Remarks by:
- Steve Dechka, Senior Advisor, Canpotex International & Co-Chair, Japan Canada Chambers Council
- Shoei Utsuda, Counselor, Mitsui & Co. & Co-Chair, Japan Canada Chambers Council
- Hon. Perrin Beatty, President & CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
- His Excellency Mackenzie Clugston, Ambassador of Canada to Japan
- His Excellency Kenjiro Monji, Ambassador of Japan to Canada
Like longtime friends, Japan and Canada often take each other for granted. It's time to rekindle the relationship.
After decades of low growth, Japan is turning a corner. As the world's third largest market and a dominant player in regional supply chains, Japan is an essential part of Canada's turn to Asia.
But despite obvious synergies across resources, agriculture, manufacturing and services, two-way trade and investment has stagnated.
Fortunately, we have a chance to change that. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will make it easier to do business in the region. Japan continues to eye Canada's natural resources and renewable technologies. There are huge joint venture opportunities in Asia and North America.
But things won't turn around overnight. We need to take real steps that will lay the foundation for bilateral business to thrive.
That's why the Japan-Canada Chambers Council is bringing together over a hundred business leaders, policy-makers and diplomats for one of the most significant bilateral business events in over decade.
Why should you attend?
- Learn about new growth opportunities from industry experts and CEOs.
- Understand the impact of trade deals like the TPP.
- Hear what it's like to do business in Japan from companies with experience on the ground.
- Discuss ways to expand people-to-people ties and cultural exchanges.
- Network with key decision-makers in the private and public sector.
SESSION 1:
Room to Grow: Seizing new opportunities
Canada and Japan have products and technologies that the other needs: from energy and infrastructure to agri-food and life sciences. But bilateral trade and investment has barely grown for decades. Where are the biggest opportunities and what's holding us back? What can the TPP and other initiatives do to turn things around?
Marc Bolduc, President Hitachi High-Tech AW Cyo Inc.
Miklos Dietz, Director, McKinsey & Co.
Michael Hefferon, President and Chief Creative Officer, Rainmaker Entertainment
Naoto Muraoka, General Manager of External Affairs Division, Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
Robin Silvester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Port Metro Vancouver
Kenzo Tsujimoto, Chairman and CEO, Capcom Co. Ltd.
Moderator: Iain J.S. Black, President and CEO, The Vancouver Board of Trade
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE:
Derek Burney, OC
Senior Strategic Advisor to Norton Rose Fulbright
Former diplomat and Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
SESSION 2:
Investing in Japan's regions
Japan is often seen as a difficult place for Canadian firms to invest. They have trouble navigating the rules and finding local partners to work with. And those who succeed tend to stay close to Tokyo. But things are changing. Governments at all levels are reforming the tax system and improving the business climate to attract new international investors. What's the status of these reforms? What kind of support is available to Canadian companies entering the market?
Quentin O'Mahony, General Manager, JAL CAE Flight Training
Kazuhiro Kiyose, Director, International Affairs Division, Ibaraki Prefecture
Wilf Wakely, Principle, Wakely Foreign Law Office — Tokyo
Moderator: Yasushi Akahoshi, President, JETRO
SESSION 3:
Building relationships that last
Trade and investment doesn't grow in a vacuum. It needs to be supported by broader people-to-people ties. Canada and Japan have a lot to learn about each other and that takes effort. How can we increase academic and professional exchanges? Boost bilateral tourism? What sort of partnerships are needed to do that?
The Honourable Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade, Province of British Columbia
Joseph Caron, Former Canadian Ambassador to Japan
Bill Bessho, President, Maple Fun Tours Ltd., President, CITAP
Moderator: Milos Barutciski, Partner, Co-Head of International Trade, Bennett Jones Toronto
