Ever fancied running a hot bath from your mobile while you are on a cold train home probably delayed because the wrong kind of rain is falling? What about trying to touch up a photograph of your loved one to make them even more beautiful? You can't be bothered to find your favourite songs on your iPod (other MP3 players are available by the way!) so wouldn't it be great if you could just call out the name? And you want to block your lost mobile phone to stop somebody ploughing through your address book and other personal details.
Well, I am delighted to say that the recent Innovative ICT Mission to Japan (25-29 October) had companies capable of doing all these wonderful tricks. And we had others too looking at open source technology, security applications and sensors. All very marketable technologies in one of the toughest markets in the world.
The UKTI Japan ICT team arranged two seminars in Osaka (25 October) and Tokyo (28 October) allowing the seven UK companies to speak about their technologies to Japan's finest ICT companies. In total we had about 150 businessmen representing the likes of Sharp, Panasonic, Sony plus many smaller but key players in the industry.
Besides the presentations, we were also able to arrange the all-important B2B meetings which gave the participating companies a valuable opportunity to talk about their products in greater detail. This was then followed by receptions in both cities allowing companies and the audience to mingle in a relaxed atmosphere.
Feedback has been very positive from both the UK companies and the local audience and the team here is looking forward to working with the mission companies to help them expand their business in Japan. And we could do the same for you. So if you are interested, please contact us - hope to hear from you soon. And if you are going to be anywhere near Bristol (23 November), Newcastle (24 November) and Hinckley (25 November) please come along to the "Doing Business in Asia" event UKTI will be holding. Japan's UKTI Director, Sue Kinoshita, will be there to answer everything you ever wanted to know about doing business in Japan.
David Abbott
Deputy Consul General
Osaka
david.abbott@fco.gov.uk