During the third week of March (15-17th) the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Japan, Greg Clark MP, visited Japan. It coincided with a number of events across various sectors, providing him with a packed itinerary and a valuable insight into the activity, opportunities and challenges faced for UK companies in the Japanese market.
The visit also gave Mr Clark the opportunity to highlight the importance across all sectors of tackling climate change and support the UK and Japanese transition to Net Zero. The Trade Envoy was able to help British Embassy Tokyo and Osaka consulate launch a year-long campaign to highlight efforts across all sectors.
Defence & Security
Greg Clark visited DSEI Japan the only large-scale, fully integrated defence event to take place in Japan. To find out more, we profiled in our recent podcast episode profiling DSEI JAPAN.
The Trade Envoy was able to meet representatives of British companies showcasing cutting-edge defence technology. The recently agreed Global Combat Air Programme is anticipated to lead to further UK-Japan collaboration in the defence industry.
Financial Services
In a packed itinerary, Mr Clark went on to speak at a seminar for the UK Asset Management Mission to Japan, about ‘The Future and Prospects of the Asset Management Industry in the UK and Japan’.
In reaffirming his continued support for the ‘Green Innovation’ campaign being rolled out in Japan he stressed the importance of optimising the flow of funds to tackle climate issues.
The mission brought six UK firms to Japan to discuss their approaches to asset management, promote the strength of the sector, and encourage UK-Japan partnership.
Clean Energy
The week also saw the WINDEX trade show, as part of World Smart Energy Week in Tokyo. DBT and Scottish Development International (SDI) brought British companies together under neighbouring pavilions. Mr Clark and Ambassador Julia Longbottom met with the companies to understand the opportunities and challenges faced in the Japanese market.
Read our interview with one of the showcasing companies, MPS, to understand more about the partnerships helping to support the Japanese transition to Net Zero and the role the UK expertise can play.
Mr Clark also addressed a seminar held by the Hydrogen Association of Japan to talk about UK-Japan hydrogen collaboration. Low carbon hydrogen will be vital for energy security, economic growth, and to meet the net zero commitment for both UK and Japan. Our latest podcast, Hydrogen in Japan (coming very soon!), also introduces opportunities for UK hydrogen sector to capitalise on the developing hydrogen economy in Japan.
