A work permit timeline can determine whether a specialist arrives when a project needs them. New EU reporting requirements can prompt questions from Japan before local teams have fully assessed the implications. For Japanese companies in Belgium, the priority is clear, practical guidance early enough to make decisions and keep operations moving.
EY Belgium delivers that support through Japan Business Services (JBS), a team designed to connect Belgian market knowledge with EY’s Japan-facing network. The objective is straightforward: help Japanese companies adapt to local accounting, tax and legal requirements while managing cross-border issues with fewer surprises and faster alignment across stakeholders.
Omer Turna, the partner leading Japan Business Services in Belgium, has worked with Japanese clients for 26 years and describes the relationship as defined by standards and long-term trust. “Quality is always a top priority for Japanese clients, and that aligns naturally with EY’s standards,” he said. In practice, he added, this means translating fast-moving Belgian and EU requirements into guidance that works for Japan-based decision-makers and remains workable for local teams responsible for delivery.
A cross-service operating model
Turna positions JBS as a cross-service model rather than a single advisory lane. He described a bi-monthly cadence in Belgium that brings together professionals across assurance, indirect and corporate tax, grants and EY Law to review Japanese client needs, anticipate issues and align on execution before challenges escalate. That approach, he noted, also attracts internal specialists who want to work with Japanese clients after experiencing the clarity and respect that tends to shape Japanese business communication.
The team’s coordination also extends beyond Belgium. Turna described Japan as its own region within EY’s Japan-facing structure, reflecting both scale and sensitivity. A monthly newsletter and regular information flow from Japan help the Belgium team stay current on what is top of mind for Japanese headquarters. When Belgium-based issues emerge as recurring risks, the team escalates lessons back to Japan so both sides stay aligned.
“Our job is to help the Japanese business community feel supported, informed and connected in Belgium.”
Omer Turna, Assurance Partner and Leader for EU Institutions and Japan Business Services at EY Belgium
Workforce mobility: making timelines more predictable
Workforce mobility is where administrative uncertainty turns into business risk. When projects depend on relocating talent, unclear authorization timelines can disrupt resourcing plans, budgets and client commitments. Turna pointed to Belgium’s single permit process for foreign talent as a continuing priority issue for the Japanese business community. His focus is on reducing uncertainty by clarifying requirements early, sequencing documentation properly and coordinating closely with relevant ministries so hiring plans can move forward with fewer question marks. “Humility and mutual respect are nonnegotiable,” he said. “I try to put myself in the client’s shoes, on their side of the table.”
Sustainability reporting: translating change into next steps
Turna called 2025 a particularly active year for changes in reporting criteria and expectations, with Japanese companies monitoring European rules to anticipate what could carry over to Japan. For Japanese management teams, the immediate need is not another technical memo, but clarity on what is required now, what may change and how to prepare without overbuilding compliance programs. Turna emphasized that communication must be proactive and tailored. “With Japanese clients, nothing is copy and paste,” he said. “If they put it on the table, you address it.”
Community briefings and webinars as practical infrastructure
JBS leans into practical education for the wider community. Turna described a consistent annual schedule of update seminars on Belgian law, migration, and sustainability reporting, plus quick alerts when policy changes accelerate. In March 2025, he noted, EY Belgium hosted two sustainability reporting webinars specifically for Japanese businesses, each drawing more than 500 participants, including attendees joining from Japan. The sessions were scheduled to be workable for Japan-based participants, reflecting the time discipline Japanese companies value and expect from partners. “Japanese clients reward quality and consistency,” he said. “Quality is not a slogan. It is the baseline.”
Where Turna sees opportunity in the Belgium-Japan relationship
Turna also sees opportunity in the fundamentals of the Belgium-Japan economic relationship and the cultural fit that often underpins day-to-day collaboration. He highlighted strong trade activity and pointed to sectors that remain central to bilateral business, including chemicals, machinery and equipment, medical-related activity and R&D. Belgium’s skilled workforce, he added, supports investment in innovation-heavy activity where Japan and Europe continue to seek resilient growth.
The 160th anniversary as a moment to deepen engagement
As Belgium and Japan mark 160 years of ties, Turna sees a timely opening to deepen engagement beyond individual projects through shared learning and stronger community connection. “Anniversaries matter because they bring people together around a shared story,” he added. “Our job is to help the Japanese business community feel supported, informed and connected in Belgium.”
