Naoto Miyamoto discusses the quadrilemma of security, affordability, sustainability, and economic viability of relevant investments, and how Japanese corporations can be a hands-on player in new business fields like renewable energy, hydrogen, and e-mobility in the Netherlands.
What are the current initiatives of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, and why do Japanese companies find the Kingdom of the Netherlands an attractive European hub and investment destination?
JCC is a supporting platform for Japanese people and Corporations to live and operate in the Netherlands. Since we don’t have a major non-governmental organization to take care of Japanese society in the Netherlands (e.g. Japan Associations in other countries), JCC in the Netherlands historically has been acting as an infrastructure for both business and living perspectives for Japanese people in the country. As such, JCC’s major activities cover four areas, namely, Investment and Business Operation, Living Environment, Culture and Education.
Another important function of JCC is to promote bilateral relationships between Japan and the Netherlands. To this end, we are keeping close communication with the relevant government offices as well as economic organizations of the Netherlands side.
The Netherlands now has the second-largest Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Europe as the number of Japanese corporations has doubled over the last ten years, in partially because of Brexit.
As the current chair, I hope JCC could provide as many opportunities as possible for the members to understand and utilize the power of innovation of the Netherlands to grow their respective businesses in such new fields like Energy Transition, Medical, e-Mobility, Agriculture and so on.
The attractiveness of the Netherlands for Japanese Corporations includes, among others, its advantage in availability of competent human resources with highest English speaking skill, geological location being the center of the European region and availability of wide-ranging business innovation hubs.
What are the opportunities and challenges for Japanese businesses operating in the Netherlands, and which industries or sectors have the most potential for growth and collaboration between Japanese and Dutch companies?
I believe the current major scene-setting factor for the global political and economic landscape is the so-called Quadrilemma of security, affordability, sustainability and profitability. Given that, the opportunity for Japanese Corporations would be to be a hands-on player in new business fields like renewable energy, hydrogen, e-mobility and so on in the Netherlands, where such initiatives are relatively stronger and faster than Asian countries. The challenges would be to find a right balance among the said four factors of Quadrilemma.
As the current chair, I hope JCC could provide as many opportunities as possible for the members to understand and utilize the power of innovation of the Netherlands to grow their respective businesses in such new fields like Energy Transition, Medical, e-Mobility, Agriculture and so on.
Naoto Miyamoto, Chairman of Japanese Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands (Mitsubishi Netherlands BV. MD)
The Dutch government is also actively looking for ways to leverage the power of Japanese corporations in these emerging fields, such as hydrogen.
In my perspective, one example of potential growth collaboration opportunities are in the field of decarbonization industry, including hydrogen and e-mobility, where the two countries can bring together specific business cases and necessary new technologies and make them happen in an agile manner.
In recent years, we have seen increased interest from Japanese companies in sustainable and socially responsible business practices. How is the chamber working to support and promote these initiatives in the Netherlands?
Yes, Japanese Corporations also are stepping up their initiative in ESG practices. To assist them, we are organizing many business seminars for the members in collaboration with JETRO, Dutch accounting and or law firms so that they are properly informed and can stay ahead of the latest developments.
We will keep striving to stay as a meaningful living and business support infrastructure for Japanese people as well as Japanese Corporations in the Netherlands to grow and enhance their partnership with the Netherlands.
