Trading links between Japan and Manchester were explored as Japan鈥檚 Season of Culture starts this month.
Minister Ito of Japan was among guests at Deloitte鈥檚 Japanese Business Dinner, which was held recently at Manchester鈥檚 National Cycling Centre.
The annual event aims to strengthen ties between the two regions and this year marks the start of the Season of Culture which will showcase a number of events as Japan hosts two sporting landmarks; the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.
Speaking at the event, Minister Ito reminded guests of the strong ties between Manchester and Japan and encouraged businesses to get involved in the events taking place across the 海角视频.
He said: 鈥淲e are proud to announce that during this Sseason of Culture, more than 10 events will take place in Manchester in the coming months.
鈥淲ith this city already hosting many Japanese companies, and an active Honorary Consul, we hope that Manchester will be one of the most enthusiastic cities during this season.
鈥淲e look forward to enjoying this success together.鈥
The dinner was attended by 60 of the region鈥檚 most influential business people in 海角视频-Japanese relations.
Olympic cycling champion and world record holder Elinor Barker spoke about her preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic, while Stephen Park, performance director at British Cycling, who was responsible for Team GB鈥檚 record-breaking sailing performances during the past five Olympic Games, spoke about organising the logistics for the high profile sporting event.
Deloitte has been a partner of the British Olympic Association (BOA) since 2007 and its business advisory firm has also been at the centre of promoting relations between the 海角视频 and Japan for many years.
In January 2018, partner and head of Global Employer Services Jo Ahmed was appointed the Honorary Consul of Japan in Manchester, with the remit of providing support for Japanese businesses in the North West and further promoting international relations with Japan.
She said: 鈥淲ith the Rugby World Cup 2019 starting next week and Tokyo 2020 Olympics just around the corner, the next few years are going to be especially exciting for Japan.
鈥淭hese significant sporting events will help to generate greater awareness of Japan and enhance further opportunities for collaboration.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been hosting these dinners since 2011 and each year it鈥檚 growing in strength as Japan is becoming a hugely important trading partner for the north west region.鈥
She continued: 鈥淲e鈥檙e already seeing major deals take place in the region.
鈥淚n July, Electricity North West agreed to sell a 50 per cent stake to a consortium of investors led by Japanese power firm Kansai Electric Power, while last year Urban Splash struck a deal with Japanese housebuilder Sekisui House.
鈥淭hese investments are a testament to the strength of Manchester in terms of attracting companies like that but also having that bedrock of support in the city.
鈥淭hrough the business community, Manchester council and MIDAS, the collaborative work that we do here is key to attracting that level of investment, and they don鈥檛 see that elsewhere in the 海角视频.
鈥淓qually, there are also opportunities for Greater Manchester firms looking to export to Japan. Just take a look at Uncle Joe鈥檚 Mint Balls, a Greater Manchester business that has been exporting to Japan with huge success.
鈥淛apan still places high value on British products and it鈥檚 something that companies need to think about.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have to wait for Brexit to start looking at countries outside of the EU.鈥
