Press Release
Sydney, January 29, 2007 | Sydney, November 20, 2007 | Sydney, August 15, 2006
Sydney, August 9, 2006 | Sydney, May 9, 2006
Sydney, August 15, 2006
AJBA President Speaks at Western Sydney IT Cluster Forum
Shortly before returning to Tokyo today, the president of the Australia Japan Business Association,
Mr. Mel Pach, appeared at the Western Sydney IT Cluster Forum held in Parramatta to deliver a presentation entitled, Japan : New Opportunities for Australian Exporters.
The event was sponsored by the New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development,
and today's forum was entitled Understanding Your Competitive Edge and Marketing in a Local Economy. The event was attended by about 70 business representatives, and is regarded as a valuable networking opportunity to explore new business opportunities.
After the first speaker, Dr Nigel Hardiman, spoke generally of international business development and several case studies, Mr. Pach took the podium and spoke specifically of the why, how and who of doing business in Japan--why business people should consider Japan as a market, how business people should approach the Japanese market, and who can assist business people to enter the Japanese market.
Mr. Pach spoke of the inherent advantages of the Japanese market, which, apart from its size, include the large middle class with diversifying tastes and the massive concentration of corporate buying power. Identifying the recently emerging advantages of Japan as a business destination, Mr. Pach pointed to the fact that Japan is now enjoying its longest period of sustained economic growth since the 1960s and that growth is at last being driven by corporate and consumer spending. Mr. Pach argued that these changes, together with the evolutionary changes including many micro-reforms that Japan implemented during its 'lost decade,' means that the Japanese market is vastly different to that at the end of the 1980s during the 'bubble economy' and is now far more open to foreign investment and foreign business. In addition, he said, the years of deflation mean that Japan is no longer as expensive as before, and with its superb infrastructure and increasingly transparent government regulations, Japan is becoming an increasingly attractive business destination.
Mr. Pach cautioned against adopting short-term objectives when entering the Japanese market.
He emphasized the need to take time to cultivate relationships, to set realistic sales targets and to
be prepared for a long-term commitment.
Following Mr. Pach to the podium was Mr. Des Sloane, Director and General Manager of Animated Biomedical Productions, who gave an impassioned account
of his company's initial failure in entering the Japanese market followed by a resounding success, emphasizing many of the points that Mr. Pach made
in his presentation.
At the end of the forum, Mr. Pach spoke informally to many participants who sought advice about the Japanese market and who were keen to share their
experiences of dealing with Japan.
A copy of Mel Pach's presentation can be downloaded here.