Newsletter April 6

It is the time of whirlwinds of sakura petals and the start of a new Japanese fiscal year – time to get ready for a busy event season!

UPCOMING BLCCJ EVENTS:

–“It’s a new world”, t alk with BNP Paribas Fortis Chief Economist Koen De Leus: Tuesday 12 April, 16:00-17:00 JST @ Zoom

–Update on trade between Belgium/Luxembourg and Japan – the impact of COVID-19: Wednesday 13 April, 17:30-18:30 @ Zoom (in Japanese only)

–Talk with CEO Pfizer Belgium-Luxembourg Karl Van De Sompel: Wednesday 27 April, 16:00-18:00 @ Zoom

–Early Summer Party: Tuesday 10 May, 18:30-22:00 @ Le Petit Tonneau

–Belgian shop @ Belgian Beer Weekend Yokohama: Thursday 19 May until Sunday 22 May @ Yamashita Park
We are currently looking for products to sell at the shop – please contact our office for more details.

–Golf tournament with the French and Swiss Chambers: Friday 27 May @ Tomisato GC
We are looking for prize sponsors – please contact our office for more details.

You can sign up for all these events by simply sending an email to info@blccj.or.jp

NEWS from MEMBERS and RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

-Member restaurant Champ de Soleil is organizing its annual White Asparagus Fair – menus available until 30 June.

They also continue their home delivery service for those who want to enjoy some signature Belgian dishes at home.

-The Luxembourg Trade and Investment office -Tokyo has published their March newsletter.

-MOFA is organizing the Government Procurement Seminar for Fiscal Year 2022: Monday 25 April, 10:00-13:30 JST @ Zoom

For more details and to sign up, please go to the dedicated website.

-The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2022.

The Centre offers a variety of services to SMEs of the EU and Japan business communities.

The Centre is also the local contact point for Japan of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). This network provides support for SMEs with international ambitions.

For more information, please reach out to the Centre directly (in Tokyo or in Brussels).

NEWS HEADLINES of the past days:

-BOJ chief Kuroda says yen’s depreciation ‘somewhat rapid’ (Mainichi Japan, April 5)

-Tokyo stock market revamped in hope of attracting foreign investors (Kyodo News, April 4)

-Japan’s Feb. household spending rises 1.1% on year but recovery weak (Mainichi Japan, April 5)

-Japan manufacturer sentiment down for 1st time in 7 qtrs as costs bite (Kyodo News, April 1)

-Japan’s long-term gov’t debt may be at worst level of $8 tril. (Kyodo News, March 31)

-Japan to further relax daily entry quota to 10,000 from April 10 (The Asahi Shimbun, April 2)

-Number of foreign nationals in Japan falls for second straight year (NHK World – Japan, March 29)

Enjoy the spring season, and we hope to meet you soon in person again!