"Going Where the Growth Is – Finnair Strategy Supporting the Finnish Trade Prospect Exploitation"
Mr. Paavo Virkkunen, Vice President, Alliances and Commercial Partnerships, Finnair Oyj

Mr. Seppo Kimanen was the guest speaker. He spoke about his experiences of Japan’s culture and business life.

The event was also a farewell luncheon for the Chairman, Mr. Petteri Kostermaa. He started as Sales Director, Singapore and South East Asia, Finnair Oyj, site in Singapore, early December 2010.
Mr. Jukka Suomela, Honorary Chairman, will act as deputy for the Chairman until next Annual Meeting

Guest speaker of the meeting was H.E. Mr. Jari Gustafsson, Ambassador of Finland to Japan. Ambassador Gustafsson gave an economic and business outlook in Japan.

Guest speakers at the luncheon after the Annual Meeting were Mr. Yudai Hata, Managing Director, CEO, Toyota Tsusho Nordic Oy and Mr. Mikko Huopalainen, COO, Toyota Tsusho Nordic Oy.

Kirjan sisällöstä vastasivat Miikka Lehtonen ja Ilpo Kaislaniemi.

Kirja on mahdollista ladata pdf-tiedostona kauppakamarin sivuilta: Links and trade information

The FCIJ conducted the first Business Confidence survey in April 2002, based on a format developed by the Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan (FCCJ). This survey, conducted twice a year, is rapidly becoming a barometer of foreign business in Japan.
This, the fifteenth, survey was conducted between April 13 and 24, 2009.

The survey is headed by a task force consisting of Aron Kremer (ACCJ), Ian de Stains (BCCJ) and Clas G. Bystedt (FCCJ).

Executive Summary

The Foreign Chambers in Japan (FCIJ) has been conducting Business Confidence surveys online twice a year since 2002
among foreign-affiliated companies in Japan. This, the fifteenth, survey was conducted between April 13 and 24, 2009, and
received 451 valid responses, an increase of 8% from the previous survey.
Although the reported sales and profitability figures for the past six months were the worst in the history of this survey (since
2002) with sales having an index of -0.56 on the scale from +2 to -2 (compared to +0.10 in the fall 2008 survey and
profitability - 0.44 (+0.03), this survey shows that the surveyed companies see some bright spots on the horizon.
The economy for the next 6 months is still expected to slide, -0.44 (compared to -0.91 in fall 2008), but looking 12 months
ahead, the companies see a turn for the better - the index shows +0.21 (-0.55 in the previous survey). Even more
importantly, the forecasts for the coming six months for sales and profitability both show a growth, small but still. The sales
forecast index was +0.15 (previous survey -0.05) and that for profitability +0.13 (-0.12). Only 9% expect a further strong
decline in sales and profitability, while 48% and 46% respectively see strong of some improvement.
Concerning the strategies of the foreign-affiliated companies in Japan, most of them remain bullish despite the bearish view
on the economy and see Japan as a market with room to expand in the long term – 66% looking for further growth and 26%
expecting to sustain their current level. 7% are planning to downsize, but only 1% (four companies out of the surveyed 451)
are considering withdrawing from the market. These results were very much in line with the findings in the previous survey.
This time three new questions were included. In the first, “What is the most significant problem (apart from the current
financial crisis) of your business in Japan? ”, 32% reported “Unclear view of the market”, 27% “Human resources” and 12%
“Lack of partners”. In the second, “When do you think the global economy will take a turn for the better?” , 38%
predicted spring 2010, 24% this fall. Only 6% expected it to happen this summer. The third additional question was “Does
your Japan office also act as Asian HQ for your company”, 70% reported no, 30% yes. Here a rather significant difference
was noted between North American companies, where 40% also act as Asian HQ, and European, where only 22% control
their Asian business from Japan. The next survey will be conducted in October 2009.

For more details, go to: http://www.fcc.or.jp/fcij/bcs.html

http://www.fcc.or.jp/email/120309.html