AGM 2022: “Light at the end of the tunnel”

Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan has held its 40th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the same day when the Ministry of International Trade and Industry 40 years ago formally recognized the founding of this new Swiss business organization. The AGM 2022 elected four new members to the Executive Committee and witnessed the appointment of three new advisors to the board.

In contrast to 2021, the SCCIJ held its 2022 annual general meeting face-to-face.

Chamber shifted purpose

At the start of the assembly, SCCIJ President Andre Zimmermann pointed out that the Swiss chamber had seen a big shift in purpose since receiving the Certificate of Recognition in February 1982. “We were founded to better lobby for Swiss business interests, but today we are focused on networking and supporting Swiss business in Japan,” he explained. The reason for this shift was that the SCCIJ joined the European Business Council (EBC) in 1998. Since then, the EBC and its 23 committees covering all economic sectors have taken over the task of lobbying Western and European business interests in Japan.

Regarding the pandemic, Mr. Zimmermann expressed his hope that the remaining restrictions on businesses and travel would be lifted in 2022. “I see a big light at the end of the tunnel but we still have to get there,” he stated cautiously optimistic. The SCCIJ also had to pay a small toll by losing a few members. The visa restrictions prevented four Swiss scholarship recipients to come to Japan. The chamber reduced the membership fee for 2021, but some members donated the difference. The SCCIJ supplemented these donations to 1 million Yen and gave the money to two non-governmental organizations supporting mental health in Japan.

In his introductory remarks, SCCIJ Honorary President and Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan, Dr. Andreas Baum, congratulated the chamber on the 40th anniversary of its founding and expressed his appreciation of the chamber’s efforts. “I have enjoyed the SCCIJ events throughout the years as beacons of substance, solidity, and resilience,” he told his audience. “Continuing this year, the chamber will be a key partner of the Embassy when we hope to finally welcome delegations from Switzerland to Japan again.”

The SCCIJ Executive Committee line-up for 2022.

Changed board

The AGM changed the composition of the Executive Committee considerably. Thomas Brodbeck (Integration Manager of Sika), Naoko Koyama (Company Manager & Representative Director of Givaudan Japan), Matthias Sutter (General Manager & Representative Director of Shangri-La Hotels Japan), and Noboru Tajima (Executive Vice President of Zuika International) were elected to the board.

They replaced five resigning EC members: Fraser McKenzie (General Manager of Swissotel Nankai Osaka) and his interim successor Dieter Sommerhalder (Deputy Branch Manager of UBS, Osaka Business Office), Keiichiro Nagatani (Head of Marketing & Communications of Credit Suisse Securities Japan), Luca Orduña (Managing Director of SwissPrimeBrands) and Naoshi Takatsu (Representative Director of Naoshi Takatsu & Associates). Alain Delfosse (Country Manager of SWIFT Japan) was confirmed as the auditor of the SCCIJ.

Two special advisors left the board: Noboru Okabe (Representative Japan of Zurich Tourism) and Kyoko Suzuki (Head of Science & Technology Office Tokyo). They were succeeded by Felix Moesner (CEO of Swissnex in Japan and Swiss Consul), Mr. Orduña, and Mr. Sommerhalder.

Three of the seven new SCCIJ board members (from left): Felix Moesner (Swissnex in Japan), Naoko Koyama (Givaudan), and Thomas Brodbeck (Sika).

PR/Media

PR and Media Subcommittee head Oliver Ryf (other member: K. Nagatani) reported the issuance of 50 newsletters and the publication of 99 news articles during 2021. Moreover, the SCCIJ profiled eight individual members in the “Meet the SCCIJ Members” article series which was started in 2020. Social media followership increased. LinkedIn followers were up by 51% and Twitter by 16%, Facebook followers grew by 3%.

Mr. Ryf thanked the SCCIJ sponsors who entirely financed the PR and media activities of 2021 with their contributions: Platinum – The Adecco Group, Credit Suisse, Novartis; Gold – Reishauer, Roche, Hotel Grand Phenix Okushiga, Lombard Odier; Silver – Givaudan, Nihon Insight Technologies Corporation, Richemont; Bronze – Audemars Piguet, Breitling, CHPM, Kellerhals Carrard, Nestlé, Pictet, Victorinox, and Zurich.

Kanto and Kansai Events

Mr. Orduña presented the activities of the Kanto Events subcommittee (other members: N. Takatsu (head), K. Suzuki, S. Bhayat, G. Muischneek): Six luncheons with a total of 254 participants and seven webinars with 274 participants, webinar records continue to be available on the SCCIJ Youtube channel.

The 4th Switzerland – Japan Economic Forum was jointly organized with the Embassy of Switzerland and IMD business school. Another cooperation with the Embassy was one Swiss Young Professionals gathering. 43 member companies participated in a SCCIJ organized online fair in June and July. Two golf and one tennis tournament were organized as outdoor events.

The head of the Kansai Events subcommittee, Guenter Spiess (other member: D. Sommerhalder), informed the AGM about its activities. The annual Kansai event was a dinner in Osaka. COVID-19 restrictions prevented the customary visit of a Japanese company in the region. The only Swiss Young Professionals meeting happened in December.

Relationship Management and Scholarships

Stefan Aebi, Head of the Relationship Management Subcommittee (other members: N. Okabe, C. Mazzucchelli, G. Spiess for Kansai), reported that despite the pandemic the net membership had only slightly changed. Luncheons, webinars, events, information, advertisement opportunities, connections to the Embassy, and social media kept the membership engaged.

Mr. Orduña, Head of the Scholarship Subcommittee (other member: D. Sommerhalder) reported that the “Swiss -Japan Scholarship Fund – powered by SCCIJ and SJCC” selected the first two Japanese recipients for a “Year in Switzerland”. They left Japan in spring 2021. The “Year in Japan” program for Swiss citizens was in limbo due to Japan’s entry restrictions – the four scholarship recipients had to cancel their plans for Japan. The selection process for 2022 is currently in full swing. The fund is looking for company sponsors and is planning a gathering of all scholarship alumni of the last 30 years.