Japan400 Business Seminar, 11 September 2013, Japan and Britain in Partnership: Meeting Challenges of the 21st Century

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Japan & Britain in partnership:  Meeting challenges of the 21st century
a Business Seminar at the Guildhall courtesy of the Corporation of London.

AGENDA AND LIST OF SPEAKERS

  • the Lord Mayor of London;
  • Mr Akira Matsura, 41st Representative of the Matsura Clan from Hirado;
  • Mr Haruki Hayashi, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Corporation International (Europe) and President, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
  • Mr Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, International Airlines Group, and President, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
  • Mr Osamu Nagayama, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co Ltd and Deputy Chairman, Sony
  • Group;
  • Sir Stephen Gomersall KCMG, Director and Group Chairman for Europe, Hitachi Ltd
  • and Mr Jun Arima, Director General, Jetro London.

Challenges addressed included; challenges in the EU, including a possible Referendum in the UK, challenges of internationalisation and restructuring, challenges of innovation and technology, and challenges of protectionism versus further liberalisation. The Lord Mayor detailed the City’s role in the Japan-British Partnership and highlight new trends and opportunities.

Speech by Sir Stephen Gomersall of Hitachi Europe Ltd to the Japan400 Business Seminar, Guildhall, 11 September 2013  ‘Challenges of Innovation and Technology’
Sir Stephen Gomersall, Deputy Chairman, Hitachi Europe Ltd and Director, Hitachi Ltd, used his speech at the Japan400 Seminar to advance the idea that openness is the key component of innovation as well as national revival in the fiercely competitive environment of the new century. Addressing the topical issue of a possible referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union, Sir Stephen said this:-

We have made it absolutely clear to British politicians that we have invested here, especially in the Rail business, in order to export to the whole of Europe, and that the state of UK relations with the EU will affect our business and the numbers of jobs we can create in the UK. But at the same time, I doubt that any other European country would have been as open as the UK in the first place.

Read the full text here Speech by Sir Stephen Gomersall

Programme
2.30pm The Right Hon The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Roger Gifford: The City’s role in the Japan-British Partnership
2.45pm Mr Akira Matsura, 41st Representative of the Matsura Clan from Hirado: A Japanese view of the foundations of the partnership
2.55pm Mr Haruki Hayashi, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Corporation International (Europe) Plc and Regional Chief
Executive Officer of Europe and Africa, and President, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry: An overview of current
challenges and opportunities
3.05pm Q & A
3.15pm Break for tea or coffee
3.30pm Mr Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, International Airlines Group, and President, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Challenges in the EU, including a possible Referendum in the UK
3.45pm Mr Osamu Nagayama, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co Ltd and Deputy Chairman,
Sony Group: Challenges of internationalisation and restructuring
4.00pm Sir Stephen Gomersall KCMG, Director and Group Chairman for Europe, Hitachi Ltd: Challenges of innovation and
technology
4.10pm Mr Jun Arima, Director General, Jetro London: Challenges of protectionism versus further economic integration
4.20pm Q & A
4.30pm Close of Seminar

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