December  2001 (No.8)

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

Congratulations Isabelle

On Friday, December 14, 2001, Ms. Isabelle Hupperts, retiring Chairman of the EBC, was presented with the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite (National Merit Order, Knighthood) from the French Government at the Embassy of France. H.E. Ambassador Maurice Gourdault-Montagne presented the prestigious award to Isabelle in recognition of her enormous contribution to the strengthening of relations between the EU and Japan.

The EBC is extremely fortunate to have been led for the past three years by a person of this calibre. In her moving speech, Ms. Hupperts expressed her desire for the EBC to grow further and become an even more recognized voice for European companies in Japan.

In this regard, the EBC is also extremely privileged to have a previous recipient of the Chevalier dans l'Ordre National du Merite as its new Chairman. Mr. Richard Collasse received the award in the past for his contributions to building relations with Japan, which undoubtedly qualifies him for the task of leading the EBC into the future.

UNICE News

The latest edition of UNICE News has been received at the EBC Secretariat. For your interest it can be accessed at http://www.unice.org/unice/Website.nsf/HTML+Pages/DEC2001-EN.htm
UNICE, the European Employers' Federation, is the European equivalent to the Nikkeiren.