June-July 2010
Entrepreneur Social Enterprise SymposiumThe social enterprise movement, in which the UK is considered a pioneer, encourages positive social change and inclusion, and supports civil society. |
CSR Managing Real Estate RiskWith increasing securitization of the industry, asset owners recently have began to require the independent third-party risk assessment that ERS provides. |
JMEC 2010 Business Plan CompetitionBCCJ President and JMEC judge Philip Gibb cong-ratulated Kristi Mackintosh after she took the honours for Britain at the annual Japan Market Expansion Competition (JMEC) awards on 4 June. |
Feature Article But What Does a Coach Actually Do?A coach is not a consultant, therapist, counsellor or mentor. Let’s use the simple analogy of riding a bike to explain the differences. |
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Industry Business Support & OutsourcingThroughout my career in the Asia-Pacific region, I have enjoyed helping businesses in a number of ways, more recently to consider and implement outsourcing. I have helped large businesses and SMEs outsource key processes and this article features some of the considerations and opportunities related to successful outsourcing. |
More Fast TrainsHitachi, Ltd. said it plans to target the UK, China, the US and Brazil to further expand sales of its high-speed trains, the Nikkei reported in March. |
Promoting Bilateral Education LinksBritish Ambassador David Warren gave a lecture at Wakayama University on the UK-Japan relationship, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 14 May. |
Wind Turbine InvestmentAbout 200 new skilled jobs will be created in northeast England with Mitsubishi’s £100 million investment in a new wind-turbine centre to research building the world’s biggest offshore turbine blades… |
Nuclear Power Plant Pumps DealMitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) agreed with Scotland’s Weir Power & Industrial Division to collaborate in the supply and maintenance of pumps for nuclear power plants, JCN Newswire reported in May. |
Ambassador VisitBritish Ambassador David Warren paid a courtesy call on the governor of Saitama Prefecture, Kiyoshi Ueda, on 19 May, reported the MSN Sankei News website. |
Foot and Mouth Antiseptic ImportedA UK manufacturer of Antec Virkon S started exporting about five tons of the antiseptic to help combat the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Miyazaki Prefecture, the Asahi Shimbun reported on 21 May. |
Subaru's Horse TrialsFour-wheel drive manufacturer Subaru was the main sponsor of the Houghton International 2010 horse trials held in Norfolk on 27-30 May, the online motor magazine Response reported. |
Store Stocks Harrods’ BeerMitsukoshi started selling Harrods 1849 Lager on 1 June at some of its department stores in Japan, lifestyle website My Life Note reported in April. |
Brand Lights Up EmbassyPopular UK accessories, clothing and fabric brand Cath Kidston, which has seven outlets in Japan, held a reception at the British Embassy on 11 May, Fashionsnap.com and daily newspapers reported. |
BCCJ Event En Primeur, Bordeaux 2009“The greatest wines represent the ultimate liquid investment”, said esteemed US wine critic Robert Parker Jr. They also make for excellent enjoyment, as was the case at the BCCJ’s Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR) En Primeur Bordeaux wine tasting held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo on 3 March. |
Business Risk Protecting Corporate Value in an Adverse EnvironmentThe global economy is emerging from the most severe economic jolt since the Great Depression, but the fallout continues to be felt around the world. Firms can fold with little or no notice and, while a business may be in good condition, counterparty risk or sudden closure of a key element in the supply chain may damage the entire enterprise. |
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Industry Winning Talented WomenForeign banks have a tough diversity agenda in Japan meeting government targets for disabled staff, ensuring ethnic diversity — and with gender too. |
Industry Financial Services Tax ReformMany articles analysing taxation of the financial services industry in Japan look at the challenges many foreign operators face: a high tax rate for corporations and individuals; lack of a clear beneficial funds regime (such as that in Hong Kong and Singapore) to encourage fund investors and managers; and an inspection regime that some perceive as being too strict, bureaucratic and time-consuming. |
Interview Lord Peter Levene KBE Chairman, Lloyd’s of LondonLord Levene of Portsoken visited Tokyo in March to open the new Lloyd’s of London office. After he addressed a BCCJ luncheon on “Fresh Challenges for the City of London” covering a wide range of issues affecting the world’s economies, he was interviewed by BCCJ ACUMEN writer Julian Ryall. |
Investment HFT: Implications for Global MarketsHigh frequency trading (HFT) that uses superfast computers and algorithms to exploit fractional differences in share prices, or delays in updating market prices in different parts of the world, can make huge profits with sell or buy orders… |
Embassy London 2012: Much More than SportWithout question, the UK-Japan relationship is both broad and incredibly important to the economic well-being of both nations. This relationship provides many opportunities for the British Embassy and BCCJ members to further our corporate objectives. |
Tax Advocacy Tax AdvocacyThe tweaks and adjustments that Japan’s financial authorities have made to tax regulations in recent years have been broadly welcomed by the industry here, and there is a degree of optimism that the new government, for all its political problems, is at least indicating willingness to consider opinions on further revisions. |
Seminar Good Advice on Grey Areas ...The popular pastime of pachinko, according to Tokyo-based barrister Tim Marrable, is a compelling parable for the legal twilight zone in which many businesses in Japan can find themselves. |
Great British Brands The Royal Bank of ScotlandBusiness has been difficult for large, global banks over the past two years and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is no exception. The good news, however, is that RBS has restored stability after a near-fatal collapse 18 months ago and is ahead of its five-year strategic plan as laid out in February 2009. |
June-July Letters |
Economy FCIJ Business Confidence SurveyThe latest Foreign Chambers in Japan (FCIJ) survey, published on 13 May, shows improvements, in many cases rather significant, regarding the outlook for the Japanese economy and the performance of the respondents. |
Cover Story, FDI, Main Feature Britain: Open for BusinessBritain was an attractive destination for Japanese foreign direct investment long before the yen’s dramatic appreciation against sterling. The doomsayers who warned, years ago, that Japan would pull out of the UK unless it joined the euro zone have been proved wrong. On the contrary, Britain attracts more Japanese investment than any other country in Europe. |
UK: First Choice for FDIBy the time you read this, the World Cup in South Africa will have kicked off and thousands of Scottish, Welsh and Irish fans will be cheering England’s opposition. Regional rivalry is no less intense in the UK’s boardrooms, offices and factories… |
Change at the TopWith the UK elections behind us and a new government in place, our thoughts must turn to what importance the incoming administration will attach to the Anglo-Japanese relationship. |
Committed to GrowthI am thrilled to greet you in my first message as President of the Chamber. As I mentioned to those attending the AGM at the time of my election, it is a great honour and privilege for me… |
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