The 1st plenary meeting of Japan-Israel Innovation Network (JIIN) and business forum held by welcoming both economic ministers

November 2017

On November 29, with the aim of strengthening the future economic relationship between Israel and Japan, three events were held at the Tokyo American Club: the first plenary meeting of the Japan-Israel Innovation Network (JIIN), a business forum and the Japan-Israel Economic and Innovation Policy Dialogue. The business forum JETRO organized was joined by approximately 330 people from governments, government-affiliated organizations and companies and saw lively exchange toward reinforcing future relationships between two countries.

The first plenary meeting of JIIN, where JETRO acted as a secretariat, was joined by Japan's Economic Minister Hiroshige Seko and Israel's Economic Minister Eli Cohen as well as representatives from JETRO, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Japan Association of New Economy (JANE), Israel Innovation Authority, Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI), Israel Export Institute (IEI), and Israel-Japan Friendship Society and Chamber of Commerce.

In his opening remarks, JETRO Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige introduced its activities such as support for Japanese companies in Israel and assistance of investment into Japan by Israeli companies, and made clear that the organization has taken an active stance in facilitating business exchange between both countries as a core member of JIIN. After that, each organization sighed the TOR, through which they committed to conduct activities such as organizing seminars and workshops in which Israeli and Japanese companies will be able to participate, business-matching, international joint research, support for technical demonstrations and dispatching of company missions.

The business forum, an event held concurrently with the plenary meeting of JIIN, received over 330 applications. JETRO President Yasushi Akahoshi stated in his opening remarks the attractiveness of Israel in terms of its business environment, while touching on that Israel and Japan have been forging ever closer relations since state visits between the two countries in 2014 and 2015. In the ceremony session following the keynote speech and panel discussion, six agreements were signed, including a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) between JETRO and the IEI in the presence of both economic ministers.

As a pivotal member, JETRO will contribute to JIIN including through dispatching Japanese start-ups to have them experience Israel's eco-system, helping Israeli companies to invest in Japan and conducting business-matching in various fields.