145 top execs representing cross-border investment between Japan and Central Eastern Europe attended the 1st annual Japan – CEE Investment Summit & Awards, held April 25th in Tokyo at the iconic Palace Hotel.
The 49 Japanese companies on the Short-List account for more than $15 billion of direct investment into Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia – as well as Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia. Nearly 1,000 Japanese companies in CEE currently employ more than 50,000 people in the region.
The evening Awards Gala was preceded by the Investment Summit, with 14 top Speakers and Panelists. See full Agenda here: http://www.japaneuropeinvestmentawards.com/summit-agenda.html
Nearly 300 Photos of the daytime Summit, Awards Winners, and Awards Gala here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thom.barnhardt
Our 19-member VIP Jury distinguished the following 22 companies:
Top CEE Investors in Japan:
Comarch; ESET; RTBHouse
Top Automotive Investors in CEE:
Magyar Suzuki Motors; Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland
Top Automotive Supplier Investors:
Mabuchi Motor Co Ltd.; NSG (Pilkington); Sohbi Craft Poland
Top Banking or Insurance Investors:
Mizuho Bank; ORIX Corporation
Top Manufacturing Investors:
Bridgestone (Poland); Nidec; TDK Electronics Hungary Ltd. (Epcos)
Top Business Services Investors:
FUJIFILM Europe Business Services; Fujitsu Global Delivery Center Poland; Takeda SCE
Top M&A Deals in CEE:
Asahi buys 5 Eastern European beer brands for €7.3 billion; Daikin completes AHT acquisition; Kansai Paint acquisition of Helios Coatings Group (Slovenia)
Top Energy or Infrastructure Investor:
Itochu (Serbia); Marubeni
Top CSR Initiatives in CEE:
Bridgestone (Poland); Fujitsu Technology Solutions (Poland); Sumi Agro (Bees Protection)
This 1st annual event, MC’ed by Thom Barnhardt of CEE Business Media and Mina Takahashi of GRJapan, was supported by a wide range of sponsors, media, associations, Ambassadors, and speakers: JETRO, Japan Airlines, CEC Government Relations, Finnair, FCA/Fiat, Hakkaisan Sake, Investment Agencies and Commercial Counsellors from across the CEE region (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Bosnia-Hercegovina), and GRJapan.
Mr. Yasuhide Nakayama, Former State Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the House of Representatives, greeted guests with a Keynote Welcome. And the Investment Summit included a keynote presentation by Mr. Masanori Tsuruda, Director the Europe Division, METI.
Save the Date: the 2nd annual Japan – CEE Investment Summit & Awards is set for April 23, 2020 in Tokyo.