GREATER NAGOGYA INITIATIVE Newsletter Issue No.17 (Oct, 2007)

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GREATER NAGOGYA INITIATIVE Newsletter Issue No.17 (Oct, 2007)
Greater Nagoya Means Greater Business Opportunities

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1. Event: Mechatronics Technology Japan 2007 (Oct 17 to 20, 2007)
2. Event: Seminar by WABOT-HOUSE Laboratory of Waseda University (Nov 19 and 20, 2007)
3. Report: China International SME Fair in Guangzhou in China (Sep 15 to 18, 2007)
4. Report: Greater Nagoya Initiative Symposium (Oct 1, 2007)
5. Mission: Greater Nagoya Initiative’s Mission to Germany and France
6. Infrastracture: “Softopia Japan” – IT Hub of Greater Nagoya
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1. Event: Mechatronics Technology Japan 2007 (Oct 17 to 20, 2007)
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Japan’s biggest FA (Factory Automation) related technology show will be held in Greater Nagoya. This exhibition was held to promote development of industry and economy of Greater Nagoya region as well as to promote international exchange of FA technologies. Many companies from different field will be participating in the exhibition. For example, there will be companies specialized in machinery, machine tools, CAD/CAM/CA software, nanotechnology, etc. For this event, 3 overseas companies were invited under GNI Invitation program. These overseas companies will have opportunities to meet with leading corporations and have business-partner-matching meetings.

Mechatronics Technology Japan 2007: http://www.mect2007.com/en/index.html
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2. Event: Seminar by WABOT-HOUSE Laboratory of Waseda University (Nov 19 and 20, 2007)
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The WABOT-HOUSE Laboratory (WABOT-HOUSE) is a R&D center conducting researches on robotic technologies. WABOT-HOUSE is located in Techno Plaza in Greater Nagoya. WABOT-HOUSE is run by Waseda University in Tokyo (one of Japan’s top-ranking universities). Techno Plaza is a research and development center specializing in research and development of virtual reality, robotics technology and other science related technologies. The name “WABOT” is well known in the world since Waseda University was the first organization in the world that has introduced the humanoid robot WABOT-1 in 1973. Many professors and researchers from Waseda University as well as Japan’s leading universities will be participating in this event. WABOT-HOUSE is hoping to launch a new robotics industry with collaboration of SME with unique technologies.

WABOT-HOUSE Laboratory: http://www.wabot-house.waseda.ac.jp/html/e-top.htm
Techno Plaza: http://www.gifu-techno.jp/index.html (Japanese Language Only)
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3. Report: China International SME Fair in Guangzhou in China (Sep 15 to 18, 2007)
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Greater Nagoya Initiative (GNI) participated in the 4th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) in Guangzhou City in China to promote the attractiveness of Greater Nagoya. The fair was co-organized by National Development and Reform Commission, Chinese ministries of commerce and finance, People’s Government of Guangdong Province and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The 4th CISMEF was co-hosted with the Japanese government, which organized a “Japan Fair” at Japan pavilion. The four-day event attracted a record number of visitors (305,000 visitors, of which 220,000 professional buyers) as well as exhibitors (3,296 Chinese exhibitors and another 1,800 from 27 countries). At Japan pavilion, 459 Japanese exhibitors in variety of fields such as food and beverage, machinery, consumables, trade and service, automobile, transportation machines, electronic industries and IT sector along with government organizations participated.

GNI hosted a booth (of two exhibition stands) and exhibited panels to illustrate geographic advantage of Greater Nagoya. Industrial maps of world’s leading manufacturers clustered in Greater Nagoya were also displayed. Brochures and leaflets of GNI and the other information of Greater Nagoya’s local governments were available for visitors. Chinese-language promotional DVDs presenting attractiveness of Greater Nagoya region or Nagoya Port were showed at the booth. Further, we conducted a questionnaire among visitors to the booth to obtain the information of their investment interest into the region. During the event, a large number of people dropped by the GNI booth and some of them expressed keen interest establishing their business in Greater Nagoya. At GNI booth, we provided information on investment environment and opportunities in Greater Nagoya as well as support service of GNIC to foreign companies seeking for expanding business in Greater Nagoya area. This exhibition was a great opportunity for GNI to appeal to enterprises and people in China about the benefit of Greater Nagoya region and promote opportunities for business exchanges between the two countries.

China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF): http://www.csmef.com.cn/web/eng/en/index.htm
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4. Report: Greater Nagoya Initiative Symposium (Oct 1, 2007)
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Greater Nagoya Initiative held a symposium to spread the recognition of Greater Nagoya’s attractiveness as well as to further assist the economic and cultural developments. About 250 people participated in the symposium. One of the topics for this year was “Formation of a global business center in Greater Nagoya for media and contents industry.” Executives of leading companies in contents industry in Japan and in the world were invited as panelists for discussions. There was another topic on “How to vitalize local economy by attracting more and more foreign investors”. Panelists on this topic were the leaders of local and overseas governments as well as leaders of private sectors in Japan and Greater Nagoya. There were many discussions about advantages of Greater Nagoya. We also received many suggestions on how to improve the attractiveness of Greater Nagoya. The participants were able to understand the benefits of the investments in Japan. We also received feedbacks encouraging us to increase these types of events, which will help spread the importance of foreign investments in Greater Nagoya.

GNI Symposium: http://www.chubu.meti.go.jp/kokusai/gni/data/190910gni_press.pdf (Japanese Language Only)
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5. Greater Nagoya Initiative’s Mission to Germany and France (Nov 19 to 23, 2007)
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Greater Nagoya Initiative is sending a mission to Düsseldorf in Germany and Paris in France for the promotion of Greater Nagoya region. GNI mission team will visit Dusseldorf on November 19, Monday and 20 Tuesday. Then, the mission members will move to Paris and stay there from November 22, Thursday to 23, Friday.

On November 19, Monday in Dusseldorf, leaders of GNI mission members such as the governor of Mie prefecture will provide presentation on attractiveness of Greater Nagoya at the conference called “Invest Japan World Conference”, which is hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). GNI will also place an exhibition booth during the conference for promotion. On November 20, Tuesday in Dusseldorf, GNI mission will have a GNI seminar in cooperation with Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The state of NRW is located in the northern part of Germany with its capital city, Dusseldorf which has a population of about 18 million. The state has close relationships with Japan since many leading Japanese corporations expanded their business in NRW. The purpose of the seminar is to introduce both areas’ attractiveness. GNI aims to contribute the future promotion of business exchange through exchange of views and opinions at the seminar. In France, mission members will visit leading companies in Val d’Oise and will have GNI seminar in Paris. Val d’Oise is located in the north west of Paris and has Charles de Gaulle International Airport. The area has many global enterprises with leading-edge technologies and is famous for having one of the best industrial estates in Europe. GNI seminar will be held on November 23, Friday in Paris for the promotion of Greater Nagoya region. If you would like to know more information, please contact us for more details.

North Rhine-Westphalia: http://www.nrw.co.jp/ (Japanese Language Only)
Val d’Oise : http://www.ceevo95.fr/heading/heading3865.html
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6. “Softopia Japan” – IT Hub of Greater Nagoya
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Softopia Japan (Softpia) was established in 1994 to further develop IT industry and to create a cluster for IT industry in Greater Nagoya. In 2003, the area where Softpia is located was designated as IT Business Model District which is called “Sweet Valley Special Zone for IT Region Development” by the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications. The word “Softopia” derives from “Software Utopia.” Softopia is aiming to create an advanced information-oriented society by fulfilling four core functions: IT Training (Training and employment of IT professionals), Technological Advancement of Industries (Creation of new IT enterprises and the promotion of utilization of IT in existing businesses), Research & Development (Collaborative research between industry, academia and government institutes), and Regional IT Promotion (Utilizing Information Technology to make a better society for citizens). It is also promoting alliance with leading IT centers around the world under the “Softopia Japan Global Concept” program. Currently there are global partnerships with 16 countries (4 partners from U.S.A, 10 from Europe, 2 from Asia) across industrial, academic and governmental bodies.

Softopia serves as an incubator by offering first class office rental space and business support to cater to the specific needs of IT startup companies. Currently about 160 IT-related companies are doing business in Softopia and making use of its R&D/incubation facilities. One of the advantages is that Softopia provides complete backup support in the area of market expansion and business support. Business-partner matching meetings and seminars with Greater Nagoya’s IT companies are hold regularly to exchange information and technology. Softopia also provides opportunities to have a joint booth at IT exhibitions for companies to introduce their products and services. Support system for resident companies from oversea is also in place. Sofopia provides a housing subsidies for non-Japanese people working within the Softopia area or renting office space in the facility.. Since it’s establishment, Softopia Japan has played a critical role in promoting the concentration of IT industries and regional development in Greater Nagoya. Softopia will continue to create an area where companies can grow by creating stronger business network ties with global industries.

Softopia Japan: http://www.softopia.or.jp/en/index.html
Softopia Japan Global Partnerships: http://www.softopia.or.jp/en/about/global.html
Softopia Japan Business Matching Site: http://www2.softopia.or.jp/bms/english/index.html