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AGM: “We had lots of positive feedback”

AGM: “We had lots of positive feedback”

Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan has held its Annual General Meeting. The line-up of the executive committee adapted to some necessary changes of directors. Besides hearing the reports of all subcommittees, the members also voted in favor of distributing some surplus.

AGM: “We had lots of positive feedback”

The Annual General Meeting 2020 of the SCCIJ in action

Virus tribute

Honorary President Mr. Jean-François Paroz, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan, formally opened the AGM 2020 with some remarks on the coronavirus. The meeting was held with extra measures like hand sanitizer to guarantee participants’ safety. SCCIJ president Andre Zimmerman confirmed the sufficient quorum of 63 percent of the membership and gave a short review of the past year. “We had lots of positive feedback and no financial concerns with another net positive year,” the president reported. The total membership decreased by seven, mainly due to a reduction in the number of student members from 13 to eight. Also, the figure for entrepreneur members dropped by 2 to 35.

AGM: “We had lots of positive feedback”

Members and Special Advisors of the new Executive Committee with Honorary President, Ambassador Jean-François Paroz

Line-up changes

The AGM accepted with its votes the suggested changes in the composition of the Executive Committee. Ms. Mamiko Tanaka, Managing Director of Oris, left the board after completing the allowed period of four years. Mr. Bernd Schneider, General Manager of Swissôtel Nankai Osaka, left Japan. Their successors are Mr. Naoshi Takatsu, Representative Director of Naoshi Takatsu & Associates, and Mr. Fraser McKenzie, the new General Manager of Swissôtel Nankai Osaka. Also, the AGM re-elected Mr. Keiichiro Nagatani, Head of Marketing & Communications Japan at Credit Suisse, as an EC member. Mr. Nagatani was the ad interim replacement for Mr. Bryan Mark, who transferred to the Hongkong branch in July 2019. Finally, Mr. Luca Orduna, Managing Director of SwissPrimeBrands, was also reconfirmed in his position. The SCCIJ constitution requires a re-election after two years on the board. Mr. Alain Delfosse continues as the SCCIJ auditor.

AGM: “We had lots of positive feedback”

Farewell to EC member Ms. Mamiko Tanaka

Report of PR/Media Subcommittee

AGM: “We had lots of positive feedback”

Welcome for new EC member Mr. Naoshi Takatsu

Subcommittee head Mr. Oliver Ryf (other member: K. Nagatani) told the AGM about the PR and media activities in 2019. The year started with a successful relaunch of the SCCIJ website and continued with 47 newsletter issues, many web articles, and a new article series with member profiles. The SCCIJ simplified the event registration process to make participation more easy and quick with its online system, which also allows for payments by credit card or konbini. On social media, the SCCIJ gained many more followers and friends. Mr. Ryf particularly mentioned the SCCIJ sponsors whose contributions entirely financed the PR and media activities: Platinum – The Adecco Group, Credit Suisse, Novartis, Straumann; Gold – Hotel Grand Phenix Okushiga, Reishauer, Roche, SWISS, Swissôtel Nankai/Osaka, Unzen Kanko Hotel, USM; Silver – M-Industry; Oakwood, Richemont, Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo; Bronze – ABB, Breitling, CHPM, Kellerhals Carrard, Nestlé.

Report of Kanto and Kansai Events Committee

The head of the Kanto Events subcommittee, Mr. Stefan Aebi (other members: M. Torii, M: Tanaka, I. Kaufmann, M. Mroczek), reported 11 luncheons with a total of 531 participants. There were several events with the Embassy of Switzerland, among them four Swiss Young Professionals meetings and one Swiss’ Experiences lectures. Also, the SCCIJ participated in 12 joint events with more than 20 other chambers. Besides, there were two events with the Swiss Club Tokyo and two exclusive events for regular members. For this year, the committee considers holding a trial luncheon in the Shinagawa or Yokohama area. Most member companies however are located in Marunouchi, Roppongi, and Ginza. The head of the Kansai Events subcommittee, Mr. Günter Spiess (other member: D. Sommerhalder), reported one Swiss Young Professionals Gathering at Nescafé Sannomiya in Kobe, one at Swissôtel Nankai Osaka, a plant tour to Itoh Denki and an international meishi exchange event. The committee will work out another company or factory visit with reception in the fourth quarter of this year and two Swiss Young Professionals Gatherings.

AGM: “We had lots of positive feedback”

Welcome for new EC member Fraser McKenzie

Reports of Relationship Management and Scholarship Subcommittee

Mr. Luca Orduna, Head of the Relationship Management Subcommittee (other members: C. Mazzucchelli, N. Okabe, F. Clerc / D. Sommerhalder for Kansai), summarized the active service to members with the keywords luncheons, events, information, advertisement opportunities, connection to the embassy and European Business Council EBC, and social media. He promised to continue providing the best value to the membership.

In his second function as the head of the Scholarship Subcommittee, Mr. Orduna reported about the “Swiss-Japan Scholarship Fund” powered by the SCCIJ and SJCC (the Swiss-Japan Chamber of Commerce in Zurich). Five Swiss came to Japan on a scholarship in 2019, and two have been nominated for the spring intake 2020. Starting this year, the program is in a trial phase to select Japanese scholarship recipients to send to Switzerland for a year to learn more about the country, its culture, language, social, and business environments.

AGM: “We had lots of positive feedback”

The Annual General Meeting 2020 of the SCCIJ

Profit Allocation

The AGM confronted a recurring challenge for the SCCIJ: As a non-profit organization, it does not aim to create a surplus. Thus, it needs to redistribute such a surplus if it occurs. In 2019, the SCCIJ donated money out of the expected surplus to a special Japan event of the Swiss endeavor Cybathlon. “Spending money for our members is easy, but it has to create some value for them,” SCCIJ president Zimmermann explained his thinking.

For 2020, the Executive Committee proposed to give one free voucher for luncheons and events to the 42 Individual and Overseas members. “This handout can help them to become a part of the larger business community and reduces their financial burden,” the president argued. The AGM accepted this proposal. The Annual General Meeting was concluded with a cocktail and Swiss-inspired course dinner.

Text and photos: Martin Fritz for SCCIJ

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