“Germany and Japan are facing similar societal chal- lenges, such as demographic changes due to an ageing population, and the restructuring of traditional industries in the digital revolution. It is important to find mutual innovative solutions in order to secure our wealth and our competitiveness.” These were the remarks with which the host, the South-Thuringian Bundestag member Mark Hauptmann (CDU), initiated the 5thGerman-Japanese Business Dialogue in the residence of Berlin’s Japanese embassy.
In 2015, Hauptmann had already worked together with the former Japanese ambassador H.E. Takeshi Nakane to start the first German-Japanese Business Dialogue in Berlin. This event, which is supported by strong partners such as the Japanese Embassy in Berlin, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Japan (AHK Japan), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation (KAS), Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), and numerous business partners, is now an established venue for connecting the German-Japanese economic community and providing platforms for business and politics.
The event offers German and Japanese businesses a dialogue platform in which they can discuss opportunities for future cooperations and network among themselves as well as with high-ranking political decision makers. Host Hauptmann, who welcomed the guests of the 5th German-Japanese Business Dialogue together with the Japanese ambassador H.E. Takeshi Yagi, said: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games 2020 in Tokyo will not only showcase the best athletic skills, but will also be a platform for innovation and technology. Key areas such as Smart Cities, high-speed networks (5G), robotics, and health all encompassed within the “Society 5.0” initiative offer enormous potential for an even closer German-Japanese cooperation in the future.”
Apart from various Japanese and German businesses, diplomats, ministry representatives and members of the Bundestag took advantage of the event in order to discuss current themes in German-Japanese economic relations. The Japanese ambassador opened his residence for an informative program consisting of keynote speeches and discussions.
The Olympics will connect sports and tech fans
The German keynote speech was given, for the first time, by a federal minister. Andreas Scheuer, Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure (CSU), tied together the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo with the hope that it will be able to connect sports and tech fans. The benchmark for innovative products is not just good marketing, but compelling technologies and serious products. Scheuer considered this to be Germany’s and Japan’s strengths. On the Japanese side, keynote speaker Kazushige Nobutani (President of the Japan External Trade Organization) effectively portrayed the close economic cooperation of both countries.
In the following panel, Andres Glunz (Managing Partner for International Business at KPMG AG), Kai Grunwitz (Country Managing Director for Germany at NTT Germany AG), Tobias Helmstorf (Head Pharma Public Affairs Regions Japan/APAC, Bayer AG), Manfred Stern (Corporate Officer, YASKAWA Electric Co., Japan as well as CEO and Chairman, YASKAWA Europe Holding AB in Sweden) and Kenji Shibuya (Professor and Director, Institute for Population Health at King’s College London) discussed with the moderator Dr. Jürgen Friedrich (Chief Executive, Germany Trade and Invest) about the meaning of the Olympic games as a pioneer for innovation and technologies.
“Our goal has to be to turn Germany and Japan into drivers of future innovations, of which all people can benefit. The close economic cooperation between our countries and our mutual trust are the key to achieving this,” said Bundestag member Hauptmann confidently.