Background on 2021 event:
The 2nd annual “Japan – Central Europe Investment Awards and Summit” will be held 9 September, 2021, in Poland.

The Awards Gala aims to distinguish the top Japanese companies across key sectors, who have brought expertise, capital, and technology to central Europe, including Germany, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Baltic States.

In the "challenging" environment of 2020-2021, we have strongly embraced a Hybrid model for this year's Summit & Awards: Attendees will join us online (via Hopin platform) or In-Person in Poland (limited to just 100 VIP attendees). (To get a feel for the robust and highly-interactive Hopin platform, see this 9-minute video.)

More than 4,500 Japanese companies have invested in the fast-growing economies of Central Europe. Japanese investors are the 3rd largest foreign investors in CEE (preferred sectors include manufacturing, automotive and automotive suppliers, and business services). And the CEE region continues to provide excellent access to the large and wealthy European economy, and M&A transactions are on the rise.

We are limiting the number of In-Person guests to just 100 VIP executives.  We expect another 200+ to attend OnLine via Hopin, including guests from Japan, and across western Europe.

The Awards (Luncheon Reception) will be preceded by a half-day Summit of discussion panels covering key investment factors and case-studies of Japanese firms in Europe.

Time Zones:
We start very-early on 9 September, with a breakfast reception at 7:30am (CET), so as to accommodate guests in Japan attending online.

Why such an Investment Summit & Awards event?
The countries of Central Europe are a primary location for investment by Japanese companies, in areas such as automotive, manufacturing, high-tech, business services, and energy. With Germany the powerhouse location in Central Europe, other countries such as Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia are important investment destinations for Japanese firms.

Who will attend "Japan – Central Europe Investment Awards and Summit"?

• In 2021, we expect total attendance of 200+ (only 100 at VIP In-Person; 200+ via online Hopin).
• More than 50 Japanese executives who have decision-making authority over investment decisions in Central Europe.
• International top execs from CEE who are keen to expand their relationships with Japanese firms.
• Investment Promotion Agencies from Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and the Baltics – as well as investment advisory firms and service providers.

Summit & Awards Schedule 2021:

• 8 September - Jury Dinner (18:30 - 21:00 CET)
  
• 9 September:
  • Summit (7:30 breakfast reception - 13:00)
  • VIP Awards Luncheon (13:00 - 14:30)

2021 Event News:

• Krakow Technology Park joins as partner to promote its strong tech partnerships.

Nominations are open: 15 Categories (deadline: 30 July, 2021):

• Date set for 9 September, 2021.
• Location: Krakow, Poland.
• 6 New Award Categories for 2021:
  • Top Japanese Employer in Central Europe
  • Top Japanese Financing deals related to Central Europe
  • Most Innovative Japanese firm in Central Europe
  • Top Japanese Luxury Goods Brand in Europe
  • Top Japanese Consumer Products Brand in Europe
  • Top Japanese Female Exec in Europe

Investment Summit Agenda
17 Speakers on topics such as:

• Political and Economic Briefings of the Central Eastern Europe region
• Entry Options: M&A. Case studies of acquisitions of CEE-based firms by Japanese investors. Economic Incentives in CEE countries
• New regulations on Special Economic Zones
• Cross-border opportunities between Japan and Central Eastern Europe in the areas of Technology, IT, Gaming, SoftDev and Digital.
• Click here for Full, detailed Agenda

News - Japan and Central Europe Investment:

• Japan courts Eastern Europe with eye on EU Indo-Pacific strategy
  
• Georgian Wine Marketing campaigns target Poland and Japan
• Nissin Foods announces 12 million euro expansion in Hungary
• Japan's JGC invests in NuScale Power
• Hungary’s Green Samurai Bond Issue wins special Award
• Nidec's 1.5 bln euro factory in Serbia
• JTI invests another EUR 60 mln in its Romanian tobacco processing plant
• Serbia's development agency, Mizuho Bank to support Japanese investors
• Japan’s largest credit card brand enters Ukraine to rival Visa, Mastercard

CEE Business Media has organized more than 25 Summits & Awards events in Central Eastern Europe, United States, and Japan.  This is an original event by CEE Business Media, with support of the following Speakers, Jury Members, Sponsors, Media Partners, Associations, and Strategic Partners:

2019 edition:

22 Winners in 9 categories at 2019 Japan – CEE Investment Awards

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, 2019 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:
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.

Keynote Welcome to Awards Gala Guests:
Yasuhide Nakayama, Former State Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the House of Representatives. He also served as policy secretary to former LDP House of Representatives members, Yuriko Koike (now Governor of Tokyo) and his father, Masaaki Nakayama. His past senior positions include Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs (2007-2008), State Minister for Foreign Affairs (2014-2015), Director of both the Economy, Trade and Industry Committee and Foreign Affairs Comittee in the House of Representatives, Deputy Secretary-General of the LDP, and Deputy Chair of the LDP Special Committee for the Promotion of Data Health.

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Top Automotive Investors in CEE:
Magyar Suzuki Motors
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland

Top Financial Services Investors:
Mizuho Bank
ORIX Corporation

Top CSR Initiatives in CEE:
Bridgestone (Poland)
Fujitsu Technology Solutions (Poland)
Sumi Agro (Bees Protection)

Top Infrastructure Investors:
Itochu (Serbia)
Marubeni

Our 19-member VIP Jury distinguished
the following 22 companies:

Top CEE Investors in Japan:
Comarch
ESET
RTBHouse

Top Automotive Supplier Investors:
Mabuchi Motor Co Ltd.
NSG (Pilkington Automotive Poland)
Sohbi Craft Poland

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 Business Execs

c.200

VIP Jury Members

25

Speakers/Panelists

17

We have deep connections throughout Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. We can connect to the resources you need for your expansion in CEE.