Past Events

Tomohiro Takashima, Director General of JETRO Hong Kong, accompanied by Deputy Director General Toshiaki Wakabayashi and Supervisor of Business Development Department Kelly Li, paid a courtesy visit to the Chamber on 13 August. They met with Chamber’s Asia and Africa Committee Chairman Jonathan Lamport and PR & Programs Director Malcolm Ainsworth.

The two sides discussed the impact of Covid-19 on trade between the two regions. Takashima said that the import of sake skyrocketed by 60% in 2020 mainly due to e-commerce, and he noticed that Japanese companies had started to place more importance on the Hong Kong domestic market with the likes of Donki and AEON opening new branches and bringing in new products. Takashima said according to their recent survey, the main challenge for Japanese companies doing business in Hong Kong was in acquiring new customers. Lamport suggested Japanese companies should look into bringing Japan’s advanced and mature elderly products and services to Hong Kong as Hong Kong’s elderly market had a lot of room to grow, and local spending power was high.

Both sides expressed hopes of opening borders as soon as possible so Hong Kong and Japan can resume normal business activities. 

Slides - Business Confidence in Hong Kong