Introduction of Organizations that Support Business Matching

The City of Kawasaki established the Kawasaki City Overseas Business Support Center (KOBS) to provide one-stop service for overseas business development by companies in Kawasaki City. KOBS provides support for overseas advancement by the companies in Kawasaki City such as business solutions for companies considering entering an overseas market, overseas advancement, or companies which have already advanced into foreign countries.

Overseas support coordinators of the KOBS will provide support to problems concerning overseas business development such as 1) understanding the demands from overseas, 2) support in entering a market, and 3) individual and specific support of overseas business development strategy for companies in Kawasaki City through coordination with related organizations depending on the stage of development.

As a regional integrated economic organization, the Kawasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry takes an international view in working toward the development and vitalization of the urban economy, in areas including mission dispatch, proposal request activities, creation of demand, support for production, shopping district vitalization, Eco-Action 21 certification acquisition and more.

A pressing challenge facing ASEAN economic integration in 2015 is the question of how to leverage efforts such as direct and indirect investment, and trade transactions, to bring about international development, considering the high growth potential and marketability of emerging nations in regions like Southeast Asia.
In particular, through exchange and collaboration with chambers of commerce and industry within the Mekong region, the Kawasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry strives to strengthen networks with various external countries, through economic and industrial cooperation agreements, by holding roundtable conferences associated with the visit to Japan of key figures in politics and industry from abroad, and meetings to exchange opinions with member companies, as well as to create matching opportunities which lead to future business chances, and promote practical business (development of human capital, etc.), thereby ensuring that a wide range of information on sales and production of companies' superior products and high technology is disseminated. At the same time, it provides support for the overseas development of small and medium enterprises within the city in cooperation with Senshu University and other local universities, as well as relevant organizations.

The Kawasaki Shinkin Bank has a total of 56 branches within Kawasaki, Yokohama and Ota City, Tokyo, and works to help (support) regional business proprietors to deal with the various challenges they face. The bank provides in-depth consulting activities in collaboration with organizations in the region, such as small and medium enterprise support groups, to facilitate more specialized consultations with businesses.

As well as support for widening sales channels via guidance on various trade fairs and exhibitions, the bank provides detailed support tailored to each aspect of the life cycle of regional businesses, from founding through to business succession (M&A).

Promotes support for local enterprises to grow and for activation of local economy through promotion of exchanges between small and medium enterprises in Kawasaki City having high technical capabilities, provision of technical and management information, and support of initiation and advancement into new fields.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a specialized organization of the United Nations headquartered in Vienna, Austria. UNIDO boasts 171 member states and, together with them, supports preparation of the industrial foundation of developing countries and countries shifting to a market economy for the enhancement of economic power and sustainable prosperity of such countries. UNIDO’s Investment and Technology Promotion Office, Tokyo (UNIDO ITPO Tokyo) was established in March 1981 in accordance with an agreement concluded between UNIDO and the Government of Japan, and aims to support direct investment and transfer of technology to the developing countries by private companies. For this purpose, UNIDO Tokyo implements various projects to connect Japanese enterprises and developing countries.

While the number of companies that consider overseas development in developing countries or countries shifting to a market economy in Asia or Africa seeking new business opportunities are increasing, there is limited information regarding such countries. UNIDO Tokyo carries out activities for promotion of investment and for support of technology transfer by Japanese enterprises by implementing individual meetings or other meetings to provide information concerning investment, laws and tax systems of developing countries. For such meetings, UNIDO Tokyo invites officials in charge of investment from such countries. Here, we introduce support activities that UNIDO carries out, such as efforts regarding environmental technology in which developing countries are also highly interested and coordination with embassies in Japan, which serve as windows for the developing countries.

JICA carries out international cooperation to developing countries as an organization that implements official development assistance (ODA) of the Government of Japan. With a vision of "Inclusive and dynamic development," JICA uses the optimum method from various assistance methods to support solutions of problems that developing countries have.
Recently, while efforts for supporting overseas business development by small and medium enterprises are activated nationally, JICA supports overseas business development by Japanese small and medium enterprises by utilizing its network with the governments of the developing countries and know-how of projects in the developing countries that JICA has accumulated through years of cooperation.

JICA's project for supporting overseas business development by small and medium enterprises which started in FY2012 aims to achieve both the growth of the developing countries and activation of the local economy of Japan by utilizing superior technology and products of small and medium enterprises of Japan for the growth of the developing countries. JICA provides various support menus, such as basic research for the start of business development in a developing country, verification by use of technology or a product of the company on site through coordination with a government organization of the developing country, and human resource development to support overseas business expansion of Japanese enterprises to support overseas business development.

The Organization sees its mission as energizing the small and medium enterprises that support Japan's economy, and thereby enriching the regional economy and, by extension, the country. It has established a support structure suited to the various life stages and challenges faced by small and medium enterprises from their foundation, through business rejuvenation, to a safety net for issues such as disaster countermeasures. As such, it plays the role of an organization for facilitating the comprehensive execution of the policies of these enterprises.

The Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation provides individualized advice in response to consultations from small and medium enterprises struggling with overseas development, in areas such as foreign investment, imports and exports, and outsourcing production to foreign companies. Specifically, its country and sector-specific experts provide the company in question with the necessary information and advice from a management support perspective, based on its operational status, ranging from whether expansion of the company is feasible and the selection of a target country, through to the necessity of development and improvement of products for foreign markets, at every stage from the start of overseas development to ultimate realization.

JETRO aims to contribute to further development of the economy and society of Japan through promotion of trade, investment, and study of developing countries. JETRO mainly works to support overseas development of Japanese medium and small enterprises. Moreover, JETRO also promotes investment to Japan in the growth field, such as environment-related fields. In addition, JETRO carries out research and analysis of economy, trade investment, industrial trends, and information regarding the legal systems of each country or region and provides such information to contribute to the overseas development of Japanese enterprises and to trade policies.

JETRO consults with companies that have superior technology and products but also have difficulty in independently pursuing overseas business development. At the booth, consultants with rich experience in business give advice regarding preparation for first-time overseas business development and the regulations of each country or region and trading business. At the same time, JETRO also introduces the overseas market information it has, exhibitions and trade shows, business meetings, and observation missions. Please feel free to visit us.

The Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) is the only juristic entity in Japan regarding patent attorneys and was established in 1922 on the basis of the Patent Attorney Act. In order to work as a patent attorney, it is required to be registered in the JPAA. Therefore, all the patent attorneys in Japan are members of the JPAA. The Kanto Branch of JPAA is a branch organization of JPAA in the Kanto area (Tokyo and seven other prefectures) which carries out various activities, such as the improvement of capabilities of its members through workshops and study, and activities for the popularization and support of intellectual property rights.

Patent attorneys provide consultation regarding application procedures of patents, utility models, design and trademarks as well as troubles related to them free of charge. Moreover, they also provide consultation on issues regarding not only domestic but overseas intellectual property rights. Furthermore, they also give explanations on "Benrishi Navi (Patent attorneys' navigation)," a useful search site when searching for a patent attorney, and distribute various leaflets which explains intellectual property rights in an easily understood manner.