Commission funds first EU environmental technology trade mission to Japan
The European Commission has helped 21 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) from across the EU to participate in the first environmental technologies trade mission to Japan. The mission, organised in the context of the Commission's 'EU gateway to Japan' programme, took place in Tokyo from 8 to 12 September. The participating European businesses and their products were introduced to over 250 Japanese companies working in the environmental sector, resulting in an average of 12 business leads per company. Japan produces approximately 400 million tonnes of industrial waste each year, putting a great strain on waste treatment facilities. As a result, by 2010 the Japanese market for environmental technologies is expected to grow to over 40 trillion yen, from 24.7 trillion in 1997, and European environmental technologies are already generating significant interest. The EU gateway to Japan programme was launched by the Commission in 1991, with the aim of helping European SMEs to enter Japanese markets and find Japanese business partners. The next environmental technologies trade mission to Japan will take place in March 2004, and SMEs wishing to take part should register their interest before December.
Kraje
Japan