JETRO's first Exchange Student/Global Talent and Foreign-Affiliated Company Networking Event

In the opening session for foreign-affiliated companies, Tomohiro Takashima, Director-General of the Invest Japan Department of JETRO, referred to the current reality in which companies face major difficulties in securing global human resources while Japan has a low retention rate of international students and emphasized that the solution to both problems is the promotion of exchange between companies and students. Following him, Manabu Kubota, Secretary-General of the International Students Support Network, explained the scheme of support in recruiting international students offered by his association. Naoyuki Maekawa, Division Director of the Foreign Affiliate Support Division of JETRO, gave an explanation regarding support geared toward foreign-affiliated companies provided by JETRO. On the topic of work visas for international students who have been recruited, Tetsuya Iida, an immigration lawyer, gave details on the requirements for visa application and the process of acquisition.

In the general session, Takeo Nakajima, Deputy Director-General of the Invest Japan Department of JETRO, made a presentation for international students under the theme of "working at a foreign-affiliated company," describing cases of business expansion by foreign-affiliated companies based in Japan and differences in corporate culture, which varies depending on the location of the parent company. After that, in order to hear directly from people with actual experience working in foreign-affiliated companies, a panel discussion was made on the topic of "the appeal of working for a foreign-affiliated company." Panelists deliberated on both the challenges and allures in working at foreign-affiliated companies, the differences seen between Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies in corporate culture and how women work, and ways of utilizing globally-capable personnel. A seminar titled "The Career Seminar for International Students" was presented by Secretary General Manabu Kubota of the International Students Support Network in order to introduce the Japanese system of job hunting and the climate regarding employment of foreign students, while offering his own advice to participants.

A pitch session was held in the venue featuring short presentations by a total of 43 participant foreign-affiliated companies in which each gave an introduction of their own organization and business operations in Japan to the international students. This was held in parallel with a poster session in another hall to allow all participants to interact on a one-to-one basis at booths set up by the companies. Companies were able to supplement information given during the pitch session with details on the type of personnel they are seeking, while students were able to individually ask questions to the companies in a free manner, providing an opportunity for each side to understand the other.