Kazuyoshi Sugano, Director-General of JETRO Düsseldorf, highlights the key factors driving Düsseldorf’s appeal to Japanese companies and the growing opportunities for collaboration between Japanese and German industries.
What factors have contributed to Düsseldorf becoming a key location for Japanese companies in Europe, especially post-pandemic?
Several factors have played a significant role in this development:
- The restructuring of supply chains has increased the need for product design and development within continental Europe.
- Düsseldorf is centrally located in the most densely populated region of continental Europe and is in close proximity to the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Düsseldorf Airport is conveniently near the city, providing easy access to major cities across Europe.
- Additionally, Düsseldorf offers a supportive living infrastructure for Japanese expatriates and has a comparative advantage over other large cities in terms of cost of living.
Can you provide insights into the key industries where Japanese companies are active in Düsseldorf? Additionally, could you highlight some prime examples of successful Japanese-German partnerships across industries in the region?
Traditionally, many Japanese companies have been active in sectors such as chemicals and machinery. In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), which is accelerating decarbonization—aiming to phase out brown coal-fired power generation in the Rheinische Revier by 2030—the hydrogen sector presents a significant opportunity. Japan possesses strong intellectual property in this area, making it a prime candidate for cooperation with German companies that have leading-edge industrial technologies.
Moreover, Japanese robotics startups like Lebo Robotics and Hibot have established a presence in the region in 2023. Future collaborations between Japanese and German companies are also expected in the industrial sector, particularly in the use of robotics and industrial IT technology.
The collaborations facilitated by JETRO Düsseldorf have been very successful. We maintain regular face-to-face communication with Digihub and Düsseldorf’s Office of Economic Development, which allows us to understand each other’s functions well.
Kazuyoshi Sugano, Director-General of JETRO Düsseldorf
Can you discuss the collaborations facilitated by JETRO in Düsseldorf, such as partnerships through the Global Acceleration Hub with organizations like Digihub and Düsseldorf’s Office of Economic Development?
The collaborations facilitated by JETRO Düsseldorf have been very successful. We maintain regular face-to-face communication with Digihub and Düsseldorf’s Office of Economic Development, which allows us to understand each other’s functions well. JETRO Düsseldorf is well-connected with many Japanese companies in Germany, and our ties with German startups are expanding daily through partnerships with organizations like Digihub and the Office of Economic Development. We leverage these connections to foster the growth of both German and Japanese startups.
Looking forward, what are the future prospects for Japanese businesses in Düsseldorf and NRW? Are there emerging trends or industries gaining traction among Japanese investors?
I see great potential for further investment from Japanese companies in the hydrogen sector. Currently, many Japanese firms handle hydrogen initiatives primarily from their headquarters in Japan. I would encourage these headquarters to bolster the structure and capabilities of their German subsidiaries to enhance local cooperation in the hydrogen business. I also hope that initial business partnerships here will pave the way for cooperation in other countries and regions in the future.
