Didier Hofmann, Director General of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (CCIFJ)

What are the most buoyant sectors in the Japanese market today?

Didier Hofmann: I'd tend to say that all sectors have potential, as long as you have an innovative product. Japan is a mature market with strong purchasing power: here, you can make money in the present, whereas in China, you invest for the future. Investments are heavier at the outset, but the return can be rapid.

Is this market the same as it was before the crisis of the 90s?

D. H.: The driving force behind the Japanese economy has changed. The growth of the 70s and 80s was based on copying, then on the assertion of technological mastery. Today, Japan is a country that invests massively in research and development and training in order to stay one step ahead of its particularly dynamic neighbours. Here, the logic of 'competitiveness clusters' has long been developed, particularly in the nanotechnology, biotechnology, robotics, home automation and, above all, information and communication technology sectors. In these sectors, many French delegations come to Japan to monitor technology, where global standards are being developed. The logic of the 70s has been reversed.

How can the CCIFJ help French companies?

D. H. : With 18 permanent staff and just over 150 members, the CCIFJ is the leading European chamber of commerce in Japan, and also the oldest, since it was founded in 1918. Our main activity is to promote the business community, with around a hundred events organised each year, either to facilitate networking, or to raise awareness and train our members in the technical aspects of doing business in Japan, such as taxation or marketing. In addition to our directory, we publish a number of publications, including a monthly newsletter and a major quarterly magazine, "France-Japon Eco". We also provide a recruitment and training service for our members, as well as a sales support service - market research, finding partners, etc. - for companies looking to set up in Japan. We also offer a domiciliation service on our premises.

CONTACT > French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (CCIFJ) Iida Building 2F, Rokubancho 5-5, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 102-0085

Tel: +81 3 32 88 96 21 - Fax: +81 3 32 88 95 58 - Internet: www.ccifj.or.jp