On 10 July 2024, the UK and Japan hosted a hybrid seminar for Japanese women entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners seeking to increase trade and investment with the UK.
This continues an ongoing series of collaborative activities to uphold our commitments set out in the Women’s Economic Empowerment chapter of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). It supports the delivery of our joint recognition on the importance of sharing diverse experiences to reduce the systemic barriers faced by women seeking to trade internationally.
During the seminar, participants heard from UK and Japanese government and non-government led programmes and initiatives providing services for women in trade. This included the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Japan External Trade Organization, which shared valuable advice on the support available to female entrepreneurs.
Speakers from the Organisation of Women in International Trade, the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade and UK Business Angels Association, all provided insights into how women can effectively access finance, skills and information to successfully trade internationally.
The Department of Business and Trade was delighted to hear directly from Japanese female-led enterprises on their experiences entering the UK market. This included the CEO of datagusto, inc. the first Japanese female entrepreneur chosen by HMG for the Global Entrepreneur Programme.
Increasing women’s participation in the economy not only strengthens gender equality but holds huge potential in boosting economic growth. Trade can dramatically improve women’s lives, creating new jobs, enhancing consumer choices, and increasing women’s bargaining power in society. The UK has successfully included trade and gender equality provisions in FTAs including Japan, EEA/EFTA, Australia, and New Zealand. We will continue to proactively cooperate with our partners to break down barriers to trade for women.
In the lead up to the Osaka World Expo 2025, we look forward to future events that will continue our programme of engagement with Japan to strengthen trade and women’s economic empowerment. At the Expo, the UK will be looking to showcase its work on diversity and inclusion at the UK pavilion, including the work we are doing on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
For more information on the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership, please follow this link.