KOTRA Hosts '2021 Global Partnering Japan' Online

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] KOTRA announced on the 16th that it held the '2021 Global Partnering (GP) Japan' online to support the export of domestic materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) companies to Japan.

The event, held from the 28th of last month until this day, involved 58 domestic companies producing automotive parts, construction machinery, and plant equipment, and 57 Japanese companies related to automotive parts and construction equipment including Hitachi Astemo, conducting a total of over 120 consultations.

On the 1st, KOTRA held a web seminar where speakers from specialized consulting firms and Japanese global companies presented the current status and challenges of Japan's digital transformation (DX), the automotive industry's status and digital marketing strategies amid the COVID-19 situation, and market trends in factory automation, suggesting opportunity factors by industry in the SoBuJang sector.

At '2021 Global Partnering Japan' hosted by KOTRA, a domestic company producing plant equipment and a Japanese buyer are conducting a video consultation. (Photo by KOTRA)

Masuda, director of Toray Management Research Institute, who participated as a speaker in the webinar, stated, "Digital transformation to achieve carbon neutrality will accelerate in 14 key areas including energy, transportation/manufacturing, and home/office," and predicted, "Cooperation between Korea and Japan in these fields will be promoted going forward."

One-on-one (1:1) business video consultations were also conducted. KOTRA reported that Japanese buyers showed concentrated interest mainly in electrification fields such as distance sensors for aerial work platforms, compact electric excavators, lithium-ion batteries, and wireless charging modules for automobiles.

KOTRA announced plans to promote support projects reflecting the characteristics of the Japanese SoBuJang sector, where it takes a long time from discovering partner companies to delivery, including not only video consultations but also sample logistics costs and digital factory inspections.