3. |
Assisting Japanese Companies Overseas |
In recent years, as globalization advances, there is a greater need than ever before to strengthen public-private partnerships in order to improve the business environment required for Japanese companies' overseas operations while disseminating and further strengthening the "Japan Brand" abroad, based on the trust and high evaluations that Japanese companies have earned through their activities overseas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers the support for the economic activities of Japanese companies in overseas markets to be an important factor in vitalizing the Japanese economy. For this reason, the Ministry seeks out a broad range of views from Japanese companies and conducts dialogues and consultations on regulatory reform with the United States and the European Union, calling for concrete improvements regarding problems that Japanese companies face. Furthermore, as a country committed to make an "intellectual property-based nation," in an effort to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights of Japanese companies in overseas markets, the Ministry consolidates systems of Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Mission overseas as well as holds bilateral and multilateral consultations and negotiations, encourages other countries to cooperate in strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights and in taking measures against counterfeit and pirated goods. Moreover, Japan is working to enhance the investing environment while establishing legal and institutional foundations through the conclusion of conventions for the avoidance of double taxation, investment agreements, and social security agreements. Such improvements lighten the economic burden of Japanese companies and individuals engaged in overseas activities.