December  2001 (No.6)

Please direct queries and comments to:
Alison Murray
Executive-Director, European Business Community in Japan
Sanbancho POULA Bldg. 2F, 6-7 Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075
Tel: 03-3263-6222; Fax: 03-3263-6223: E-mail: ebc@gol.com

In Just 3 Years - A Giant Leap Towards a Professional EBC
Isabelle Hupperts Retiring From the EBC

On December 31, 2001, Ms. Isabelle Hupperts steps down from the office of Chairman of the EBC after more than 10 years as a member, Vice-Chairman, and Chairman. Ms. Hupperts has steered the EBC as its chairman for the past three years through a period of rapid change in the perception of Europe among our Japanese interlocutors. The changes that have taken place in the EBC during that period are profound at both microscopic and macroscopic levels.
We urge you to read through the attached EBC report, "EBC Summary of Achievements 1999-2001 - A Snapshot Review of Progress Over the Past Three Years," which was distributed at the EBC Council meeting held today (December 13, 2001) and spells out in detail, the ways in which the EBC has consolidated and grown in terms of its infrastructure, operations, profile and spheres of influence, despite the unavoidable withdrawal of an annual \23 million or more funding source from 1998.
You will also find below, a message from the retiring chairman. I am sure you will all join with the EBC Secretariat in wishing her well in her new endeavours, which will keep her based largely in Europe next year.
An election process by which the new chairman is being selected by the EBC Council from more than one candidate has reached a conclusion and the name of the person who will take up the office of EBC Chairman from January 1, 2002, will be announced at this morning's EBC Council meeting. We will inform you of the result by e-mail this afternoon.

Message from Retiring EBC　Chairman, Ms. Isabelle Hupperts

Since its humble beginnings back in 1972, the European Business Community (EBC) has developed into an important voice for European business interests in Japan.
Having been involved with EBC activities for many years - including the last three as its Chair - I have been able to witness EBC's remarkable transformation into a truly professional business organization first hand.
All of the members of all of the national European chambers of commerce and business associations in Japan can take pride in the fact that through their efforts the EBC has been able to establish a permanent presence and strengthen its position as the chief advocate for European business interests in Japan.
The EBC has intensified its relationship with the EU thought the EC Delegation and with other business organizations such as the Keidanren in Japan and UNICE in Europe. The EBC has also become more active in lobbying its position through publications such as the Report on the Japanese Business Environment, through participation in forums such as the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable, and through direct committee-based contact with the Japanese Government.
With this increase in activity, however, has come increased pressure on the EBC as an organization.
More and more people are contacting the EBC for a European perspective on issues that affect all companies doing business in Japan. A great deal of energy is being spent nurturing the important relationships developing between the Japanese Government and the various EBC committees. Many European governmental organizations have come to rely on EBC knowledge when forming their own opinions about Japan.
The challenge now is to create an EBC that has the professional capacity to continue to meet and exceed these high expectations. In this regard, I very much appreciate the support that the EBC has received from all of you over the years. More than 360 member firms now participate directly in EBC Committee activities, which, I might add, is the highest participation rate so far in the history of the organization and membership is continuing to grow.
While I will be moving on at the end of this year after three years as Chair of the EBC, I very much hope that the committee members and all of the European national chamber members will continue to support the EBC as it continues to evolve as an organization dedicated to the promotion of European business interests in Japan.

Isabelle Hupperts
Retiring Chairman, EBC