EOB Meeting Notes

Wednesday April 28, 2004, EBC Office

8:30-10:30 a.m.

Apologies: G. Schlosser; H. Porat
Representatives:
Absent: Pieter Elbers, T. Varlid

ACTIVITIES REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN:

1. Meetings in Europe

During a recent trip to Europe, R. Collasse met with Mr. Philippe Jean, who is the head of international affairs in DG Trade. Also met with the Director General of the cabinet. Discussed the notion of a formal framework for mutual cooperation on promoting FDI raised in the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable and by the EBC last year. The EC does not seem keen on the idea as they feel it would lack specifics and could be used as a tool to avoid forming specific agreements in the future. R. Collasse also met with Mr. Davignon and Mr. Kawan. Mr. Davignon will step down from the Roundtable next year and has suggested that Mr. Joly, Chairman of Air Liquide might replace him in 2005. Mr. Joly is well-known in Europe and Japan and would be an excellent co-chairman. Also met with Seamus Gillespie, Head of the Japan Desk at External Affairs.

2. Presentation at Japan Investment Council-JIC (March 24) (Content on EBC website)

EBC will be involved in a follow-up working group. Request from EBC for EBC chairman to be permanent member of the JIC to be submitted.

3. Bimonthly Government Investment Discussion Lunch Meeting (March 24)

R. Collasse and A. Murray met with the usual group of Japanese Government and industry officials. The relationship is strengthening.

4. Lunch with ACCJ President (Debbie Howard) and Executive Director (Don Westmore) (March 29)

Debbie Howard is seeking a closer relationship with EBC: joint sponsorship of events, etc.

5. Meeting with ICEP officials (Portugal) - (March 5)

R. Collasse provided a briefing on the economy, business climate and FDI. Letter was distributed

6. Meeting with Mr. Pierre Defraigne, Deputy Director-General, Trade, EC (April 12)

R. Collasse and A. Murray attended a breakfast with Mr. Defraigne who is a senior EC offical and was seeking input from the EBC for the upcoming EU-Japan Summit on June 22.

7. Presentation at Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry - TCCI (May 21)

The TCCI has requested R. Collasse to make a speech on the EBC and measures to promote FDI

ROUNDTABLE/NIKKEI SEMINAR UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN:

8. EU-Japan BDRT

There is a problem with attendance as very few top and senior executives from Europe have signed up to attend. Mr. Davignon has not asked the EBC to assist in recruiting companies. The EC is aggressively trying to recruit companies to attend.

9. Nikkei Seminar
Date is the afternoon of May 21 immediately after the Roundtable and immediately before the EU-Japan summit. Because of poor attendance at the roundtable, it is proving difficult to find 2 very high-level participants from Europe to join the panel

REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

10. EBC-IIST event (March 2) - report

Report handed out. Good feedback from the participants. Several articles appeared overseas

11. JERI presentation (March 5) - content on EBC website

Around 30 prefectural, MOFA and JERI folks were present. Refer to website for content

12. Request from MOFA for EBC white paper on CD for distribution

In response to a request from MOFA, the EBC 'S 2003 white paper has been sent to MOFA on a CD so that they can distribute within the government

13. Reinstatement of Portugal in Council

Late last year Portugal (UCEP) withdrew from the EBC as they did not expect to receive the funds for membership. However, they have now received funds and rejoined (and paid their 2004 fee)

14. Correspondence from Enterprise Estonia

R. Collasse received a letter from the Estonian Government requesting observer status in the EBC Council in accordance with the guidelines agreed at the previous council meeting (first year free, 80,000 yen per year thereafter). Mr. Kangro of the Estonian Embassy will attend council meetings starting from the May 27 meeting

15. Letter from BCCJ re reduced financial contribution in 2005

The BCCJ has sent R. Collasse a letter indicating that their financial contribution will be reduced from 3.4 million yen to 1.8 million yen from 2005. This highlights the financial instability of the EBC and R. Collasse will call for a funding taskforce at the next council meeting

16. Request from Eurochambres
Eurochambres will visit the EBC on May 20 to discuss the possibility of subcontracting some market report updates to the EBC. The secretariat will look into the details.

FUNDING UPDATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

17. Chamber 2nd term payments

Almost all received and ICCJ payments will be made this week

18. Committee member fee payments

i. Direct collection from DHIJK and BCCJ members
The worked very well with almost all fees collected by the end of March. Direct collection from all chambers in 2005 should be raised at a future council meeting

ii. Chamber collection and payment
Some of the fees collected by the chambers are still outstanding (those with a March/April end deadline) and some are not yet due (June end deadline)

19. Telecom scheme (Ultracall)

Seems like a great way to bring in funds and benefit members at the same time but few are signing up. A new outreach will be made in a few weeks and more details about rates will be provided to clarify the benefits

20. MCE/AMA seminars

Further outreaches will be made, but so far insufficient registrations have been received to go ahead. This may be due to the high cost. If people signed up there is excellent potential for funds to be earned

21. Website advertisements

EBC COMMITTEE ITEMS:

22. Report on Committee News from Policy Director - refer to separate sheet

Refer to separate sheet and related handouts

23. Comments, if any, from EOB members re committee liaison

None

EBC CROSS-SECTOR POLICY ITEMS:

24. Report from Policy Director - refer to separate sheet

Refer to separate sheet and related handouts

ORGANISATIONAL ITEMS:

25. Taskforce update of draft revision of the EBC constitution (March 22)

Taskforce met and modified the constitution draft and Michael Hancock will rewrite. The new draft will be distributed before or at the May 27 council meeting

26. Taskforce update of draft revision of the EBC committee rules (April 6)

Taskforce met and revised the committee rules and Michael Hancock will rewrite. The draft will be distributed before or at the May 27 council meeting

27. Funding taskforce

As mentioned earlier, at the next council meeting, R. Collasse will discuss the need for a funding taskforce for transparent guidelines on stakeholder financial contributions.

DAIMLERCHRYSLER CUP REPORT:

28. Update

New website for registration and information: www.dccgolf-japan.com
Registrations are being received at a brisk pace. Will be full before long. More sponsors are needed

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

29. Any Other Business
None