On 13-15 November 2024, four European SMEs participated in the 17th Kawasaki International Eco-Tech Fair to take part in a matchmaking event with Japanese companies and government representatives from Cambodia and the Philippines (Cebu). Every year, the Kawasaki International Eco-Tech Fair brings together companies active in waste management, water treatment, renewable energy, and other environmental solutions. The EU-Japan Centre together with Kawasaki City and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization's Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Tokyo organised a three-day programme around the trade fair to foster EU-Japan business cooperation in ASEAN.
The EU-Japan Centre supported four European SMEs interested in working with Japanese firms not only in Japan, but also to expand with them into the ASEAN market:
On the first day, the European participants joined a booth tour and met a dozen Japanese companies. Government representatives from Cambodia and the Philippines were present as well. A matchmaking session was organized during which the European companies had pre-arranged meetings with visitors and other exhibitors. On the second day, the EU-Japan Centre and its partners organised the ASEANxEU Meet-Up Day. The event included a pitching session to promote the solutions developed by the European participants and a discussion session to further explain the challenges faced by Cambodia and the Philippines and how EU and Japanese companies can work together to tackle these challenges. On the third and final day, the participants visited three companies in Kawasaki: a waste management plant, the world’s first hydrogen hotel, and a biomass power plant.
Stay tuned for other matchmaking events and missions at trade fairs organised by the EU-Japan Centre.
By James Lander, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Business Development, ALGAESYS S.A.
What was the most important learning point of the mission?
“The whole trip to Kawasaki Eco-Tech Fair exceeded my expectations and was packed with valuable connections and conversations. Many Japanese engineering companies had a strong established presence across ASEAN and recognised the value that our systems could contribute to their value proposition and continued competitiveness. A lot of Japanese infrastructure which was state-of-the-art is now in need of reinvestment and herein lies an opportunity for ALGAESYS to contribute to a new era of high integrity decarbonised circular water management”.
What was the most valuable component and why?
“The matchmaking sessions and booth-side meetings were the most valuable component with fabulous support from the interpreters who were themselves seasoned industrialists with great enthusiasm and who offered practical business development support and cultural advice (i.e. not just gifted linguists!). The EU-Japan Centre staff did a great job of tracking people down to meet and were very proactive”.
How will your participation benefit your company?
“My attendance was a huge step forward in helping our company assess the Japanese internal market and overseas collaboration – nothing beats meeting people in person – people who are often difficult to get in front of in the normal course of business. With some of the companies, I felt there were people present who could make decisions and so there were some immediate points of follow-up”.
What would be your advice for future participants based on your experience?
“Although I had a busy international travel schedule in the month leading up to the event, I had prepared reasonably well, including my own limited contacts in Japan. The EU-Japan Centre team was certainly on my case and keeping me on my toes in this preparation stage! The more you prepare upfront, the more the EU-Japan Centre can help you make a success. They were very proactive and focused on helping each EU company best prepare”.