Newsletter 18 December
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The BLCCJ has wrapped up some very busy few weeks with a record attendance Gala, the Nippon Export Award ceremony, the Belgian shop at Belgian Beer Weekend Shinjuku and just yesterday our AGM.
Time to take a break, but rest assured that we already have several exciting events planned for the new year, ready to be penciled into your brand new agendas!
UPCOMING BLCCJ EVENTS:
–New Year Party 2025: Wednesday 22 January, 18:30-22:00 @ Le Petit Tonneau, Toranomon
–Luncheon with Luxembourg Pavilion Director Daniel Sahr: Friday 24 January, 12:00-14:00 @ Le Rire, Sendagaya
–BJA & BLCCJ Expo Webinar Series – part 1: Exploring Osaka beyond the Expo: Tuesday 4 February, 18:00-19:00 @ Zoom
–Joint Chamber Ski and Snowboard Weekend: Saturday 15 February @ Okushiga Kogen, Nagano
-Save-the-date! BLCCJ Gala 2025: Friday 28 November @ Conrad
Many more exciting events are in the making for the new year, so stay tuned!
BLCCJ OFFICE NEWS:
-With 2 Directors leaving the BLCCJ Board, we opened up for co-optation. The Board of Directors is happy to announce that Abdel el Madrari and Guillaume Nicolas have been co-opted to the BLCCJ Board of Directors, starting from 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2025.
-We are happy to announce that Mayo Motoki has signed a permanent contract as BLCCJ Executive Assistant.
BLCCJ MEMBER NEWS:
-We are excited to welcome a few new members into our BLCCJ community:
- Individual member Akiko Nirei Rousse, Executive Vice President of NIRE UPS INC. The company works with Belgian fashion designers Meryll Rogge and D’Heygere, and is distributor for Belgian chocolate brand Meurisse.
- Starter member Lotte Cleemput, Miyazaki City International Policy Division, Interculturalism Promotion Section (in view of the JET program)
- Starter member Marc Breynart, Michael Page (and former VP of the BeLux Chamber in Korea)
We look forward to introducing them to you soon!
-Our annual Christmas Basket is out – get inspired for the holidays!
-The latest newsletter of our sister organization BLMC features an interview with our Board member Hironori Kato, Head of Barco Japan.
A few weeks ago, BLMC interviewed another member, Mr. Takehito Oroku, Head of Cargolux Japan.
OTHER NEWS:
-On 9 December it was International Anti-Corruption Day. On this occasion the Belgian Embassy would like to inform/remind Belgian companies of the topic by sharing the attached OECD Convention on anti-bribery and a Good Practice Guide. The Embassy shared good examples of anti-corruption measures by member companies Puratos, Azelis and Syensqo (article on LinkedIn).
-The CCIFJ Executive Leadership Program is open to BLCCJ members (at the same conditions as CCIFJ members) – application deadline is 13 February 2025
-The owners of Belgian waffle restaurant “Hapje” in Osaka will be moving back to Belgium next summer, so they are looking for a buyer. Ideally someone who sees growth potential in this Belgian establishment that already exists 9 years.
If you are interested, please contact owner Jelle Hanssen directly: jellehanssens@gmail.com
Finally, here are a few NEWS HEADLINES of the past days:
-Japan’s trade deficit shrinks 85.5% in Nov. on chip equipment exports (Mainichi Japan, 18 Dec)
-Japan enacts 13.9 tril. yen extra budget for economic package (Kyodo News, 17 Dec)
-JR East to increase fares by 7%, 1st rise since 1987 privatization (Kyodo News, 7 Dec)
-Japanese public choose ‘gold’ or ‘money’ as kanji of 2024 (NHK World – Japan, 12 Dec)
-Japan A-bomb survivor group receives Nobel Peace Prize amid world tensions (Kyodo News, 11 Dec)
-Japan sake-brewing added to UNESCO intangible heritage (Kyodo News, 5 Dec)
On this note we wish you all a wonderful holiday season!
Our office will be closed from 23 December until 3 January – back at your service on Monday 6 January 2025!