Interview series: the people behind EU-Japan cooperation

EU-Japan cooperation takes shape in many forms: signed agreements, trade missions and cultural events, joint innovation and dialogue. But the question remains: Who are the people behind these efforts? What is their story and how did they become a gear in developing international cooperation? 

The EU-Japan Centre is happy to introduce the seventh installment in a series of articles introducing the individuals and organisations making EU-Japan collaboration a reality – an interview with Marta Szczygiel, the Head of the Foreign Trade Office in Tokyo at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

Q: What is your professional background? How did you first get in contact with Japan and its culture?
Marta: I've always been interested in Japan. This is the same for many people, but when I was little in Poland, we had anime. I remember that it was dubbed in Italian because in Poland it was difficult to get the original series. Then I heard for the first time that they were Japanese, so it intrigued me to learn a bit more about Japan. This led me to go into Japanese studies as my major at university and I continued from that point on. I had an opportunity to go on a scholarship to Japan three times in total, including doing my PhD at Osaka University. Even later, when I finished my academic career, I still wanted to have some type of connection with Japan. That is why I shifted towards business, which led me to join the Polish Investment and Trade Agency as the Head of Tokyo Office in 2019.

Q: For the last 3 years, you have been working as the Head of Foreign Trade Office in Tokyo at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency. Can you tell us about your mission? 
Marta: As the name suggests, our agency has two basic missions: to support Polish companies wanting to expand into foreign markets, and to attract foreign direct investments into Poland. We have more than 50 foreign offices all over the world and I am responsible for the one in Tokyo, which means that we support Polish companies wanting to expand into the Japanese market. This is the main responsibility of the Foreign Trade Office. We belong to the export support department, and this is basically 80% of our job. Another 10% of our job is being the first point of contact when it comes to FDI, so if a Japanese company is considering expanding into Europe and they think Poland might be a good choice - and Poland is the best choice right now, we give them some basic information. We are here in Tokyo, and we speak Japanese, so it is better for Japanese companies to meet us and see their options. I always say that we are like a “madoguchi” for Japanese companies into Poland. As for the remaining 10%... and it is 10% for now, I imagine it will increase pretty soon, it is activities related to the Osaka Expo, because our agency is responsible for the Polish pavilion. Starting next year, it will get very busy in Japan because we have trade missions coming from Poland, with almost every prefecture in Poland putting together a delegation. But at the moment, I would say that 80% is supporting exports, 10% is supporting investment and 10% is supporting EXPO activities.

The interview continues online, read the complete version here.