Working-Level Meeting for Asian Trade Promotion Forum in Miyazaki

June 2016

On June 14 and 15, JETRO held a working-level meeting for the Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) in Miyazaki, which was joined by 35 members from 22 countries and regions.

With the holding of the 30th ATPF CEO meeting next year, the following two frameworks were discussed during this working-level meeting: “further revitalization of the ATPF” and “utilizing the platform of the ATPF to support supplier matching and investment relations.” Regarding “supplier matching”, a particular scheme for responding to company inquiries by TPOs was introduced. During the “investment” session, a presentation was made on a recent example of collaboration between the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE). The meeting also included presentations on other cooperative projects conducted by ATPF members, best practices implemented by each TPO and a joint exhibition at “China Import Expo 2016.” The day after the meeting, members joined a tour to visit local industries in Miyazaki.

The ATPF Working-Level Meeting is held within Japan every year. Taking advantage of opportunity this presents, JETRO has held the meetings in key areas outside of major cities in order to introduce the attractiveness of the Japanese countryside to attendees. For this year’s meeting, Miyazaki was selected, where JETRO opened its 43rd domestic office last October.

The networking session, which was held on the first day of this meeting, was joined by the Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture Shunji Kono and the Chairman of Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly Toru Hoshihara, as well as international students, in addition to many business people in Miyazaki. All of them engaged in a lively exchange of information with meeting members. At the beginning of the session, guests took part in a toast with shochu produced in Miyazaki. Local Miyazaki cuisine was also served, and included agricultural and livestock products only available locally, such as Miyazaki beef and mango.

After the meeting, members visited some local facilities to learn about traditional Japanese industry as well as the latest plant-science technology. At a special site for next-generation greenhouse horticulture, they learned about a hybrid environment control system which grows sweet peppers in a greenhouse, along with a cultivation management system based on accumulated data in the field which has improved productivity. As an example of traditional industry, they visited Kirishima Factory Garden to learn about production of the local shochu, which is unique to the region and for which quality is controlled with meticulous care. Among the comments JETRO received from attendees, particular praise was given for the hospitality shown by Miyazaki.