The Seminar Implementation Support Program for PREX Global Network FOODEX JAPAN 2023/Towards the Osaka Kansai World Expo -Realities of the Japanese Market and Business Opportunities for Brazilian Companies

Since its establishment in 1990, PREX has conducted human resource development training both in Japan and overseas for more than 19,000 people from 157 countries and regions.
Of these, alumni associations were established in 14 countries and regions for participants of training in Japan, and relationships have been maintained through follow-up projects, and the organization was reorganized as ‘PREX Global Network’ (hereafter PGN) in April, 2019. In the future, regardless of country or region, we aim to build a network for all participants who have taking part in training programs conducted by PREX in Japan.

As part of this, ‘The Seminar Implementation Support Program for PREX Global Network’ to support PGN members in holding seminars in their own countries was launched from 2021, and in 2022 adopted and implemented a proposal from ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and decided to implement it.
ApexBrasil positioned this seminar as an opportunity for Brazilian companies to learn about the realities of the Japanese market and business opportunities for Brazilian companies, with the 2025 Osaka Kansai World Expo in mind.
The seminar focused on the food and beverage sector, and targeted companies including those exhibiting at FOODEX JAPAN 2023 (the 48th International Food and Beverage Exhibition). The goal of the seminar was to share information on the current state of the Japan market and its issues, and to offer advice on how to break into Japan’s food and beverage market via a Zoom webinar hosted by a local Brazilian host.

Despite local Brazilian time being early morning (due to the 12 hour time difference with Japan), there were more participants than initially expected (about 30 people + about 10 counterpart organization staff), revealing the extent of Brazil’s interest in breaking into Japan in this field. The seminar started with a lecture on ‘FOODEX 2023 and the Osaka Kansai World Expo’ by ApexBrasil, followed by a lecture by Professor Goto of Kansai University on ‘The realities and issues of the Japanese market now’, and a lecture by Mr. Ishikawa, a certified trade advisor of the Association of Trade Advisors (AIBA) on ‘Market Product Development: Foods and Beverages’. This was followed by additional explanations and exchanges of opinions by all the speakers, and was rounded off with questions from all the participants, closing off the two-day program on an energetic high.

*The following feedback was given in the participants’ questionnaires. Satisfaction with theme, lecturer, and text: each 100%

• I was enlightened and motivated by this event. I would like to see more interactive opportunities and seminars like this one.
• The information about the themes was clear.
• The lecturers and texts were wonderful.
• The content was directly related to practical issues, and the level of the instructors was very high.
• The support was very courteous and kind, sending links to the chat immediately on information mentioned during the lecture.

This program is planned to be repeated in the next fiscal year and beyond in order to support the activities of PGN members.

The Seminar Implementation Support Program for PREX Global Network
FOODEX JAPAN 2023/Towards the Osaka Kansai World Expo
-Realities of the Japanese Market and Business Opportunities for Brazilian Companies

★Schedule: Tuesday, February 7, 2023, Wednesday, February 8, 20:00-22:00 (Japan time)
★Participants: 90 Brazilian food and beverage company executives, management consultants, etc. over 2 days
*Including companies planning to exhibit at FOODEX JAPAN 2023 (48th International Food and Beverage Exhibition)
★Participating country: Brazil
★Instructors/Site Visits (honorific titles omitted, in no particular order)

• Kenta Goto, Professor, Faculty of Economics, Kansai University
• Masahiro Ishikawa, Japan Trade Advisor Association (AIBA) Certified Trade Advisor (Professor, Global Biz Professional College/JETRO staff)

(Yamaguchi, Yamauchi, Takayama, Sekino)

*For inquiries regarding this training, please contact via the link below.
prexhrd-pr@prex-hrd.or.jp