Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
Japan-UK Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Seminar 2025
Overview
In cooperation with the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Japanese government will host a virtual seminar on Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) on Thursday, February 6, 2025, as an initiative under the Japan-UK Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Japan-UK CEPA).
This seminar seeks to uphold the commitments set out in the Japan-UK CEPA, which has been in force since 1 January 2021, and in which the governments of the UK and Japan have confirmed to build up cooperation to make 2025 an opportunity to promote “trade and gender equality”.
The seminar will be a great opportunity for women entrepreneurs and business owners interested in trading with, investing in or expanding their business in Japan to hear about the various initiatives and support services offered by a variety of public and private organisations. The seminar will provide an overview and attractiveness of the Japanese market, support tools for women entrepreneurs and business owners provided by the Japanese government and other related organisations, as well as an opportunity to hear directly from UK women entrepreneurs and business owners who have successfully entered the Japanese market.
More details are available on the UK Department of Business and Trade website
.
Date and Time
- February 6, 2025 (Thursday) 18:00～20:30 (Japan)
9:00～11:30 (UK)
Seminar Format
Online Webinar (Please register your interest through the form below.)
Language
English
Registration
You can use this form to register your interest in attending.
We will send a meeting link to your e-mail at a later date.
Programme
- Moderator:
- Deputy Director-General Shige WATANABE
Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
| UK Time | JP Time | Lead | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00-9:05 (5min) |
18:00-18:05 | Shige WATANABE Deputy Director-General, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan |
Opening remarks, introductions, housekeeping |
| 9:05-9:15 (10min) |
18:05-18:15 | Mitsuru MYOCHIN Director-General for Foreign Direct Investment Promotion – Cabinet Office, Government of Japan |
Why Japan (Overview)? Explore why Japan is an excellent opportunity for businesswomen and entrepreneurs interested in establishing or growing a business in Japan. |
| 9:15-9:25 (10min) |
18:15-18:25 | Yuji SANADA Lead - Innovation Department, JETRO |
Support Measures by JETRO Specific support measures for those considering business expansion into Japan. |
| 9:25-9:40 (15min) |
18:25-18:40 | Q&A | |
| 9:40-9:50 (10min) |
18:40-18:50 | Sarah BACKLEY Executive Director - British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ) |
Entering the Japanese Market with BCCJ
|
| 9:50-10:00 (10min) |
18:50-19:00 | Satoko KUSANO Director – Strategic Business Promotion Division, Office for Startup and Global Financial City Strategy Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
Invest Tokyo Introduce Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s initiatives on foreign direct investment including bringing in startups. |
| 10:00-10:15 (15min) |
19:00-19:15 | Q&A | |
| 10:15-10:25 (10min) |
19:15-19:25 | Erika KANAI Senior Associate - ANRI |
ANRI
|
| 10:25-10:35 (10min) |
19:25-19:35 | Kanako INOUE General Partner – NEXTBLUE |
NEXTBLUE
|
| 10:35-10:50 (15min) |
19:35-19:50 | Q&A | |
| 10:50-11:00 (10min) |
19:50-20:00 | Shoko Doherty CEO – Celtic English Academy |
Business leader spotlight: Sharing experiences and advice from women entrepreneurs that have entered the Japanese market. |
| 11:00-11:10 (10min) |
20:00-20:10 | Laura Rudoe Founder and CEO – Evolve Organic Beauty |
Business leader spotlight: Sharing experiences and advice from women entrepreneurs that have entered the Japanese market. |
| 11:10-11:25 (15min) |
20:10-20:25 | Q&A | |
| 11:25-11:30 (5min) |
20:25-20:30 | Shige WATANABE Deputy Director-General, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan |
Closing |
Contact Us
European Union Economic Affairs Division,
Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
(TEL: 03-5501-8348、Email: we-workshop@mofa.go.jp)